City officials convened discuss the complex issue of arranging special trains for the book fair - footage available
Unleashing Smoother Transit at the Leipzig Book Fair: A Proposed Solution
On a stormy Wednesday, June 25th, the city council gathered to ponder the idea of additional trains running during the renowned Leipzig Book Fair. The city administrative body aspires to engage in discussions with both Deutsche Bahn and the relevant transport association regarding this matter, but their optimism remains tempered.
Marius Wittwer, a city councillor from the SPD, is thriving on the continually growing numbers of visitors at the Leipzig Book Fair. He believes that streamlining admission and arrival processes could bring even greater success. During the council meeting, he suggested that a train ride from the station to the fair could be completed in merely six minutes–without any layovers–making it an appealing and eco-friendly choice.
His faction proposed the implementation of "fair special trains" as early as 2026. These trains would provide a comfortable and enjoyable journey between the main and fair stations.
Pendulum Traffic: A Challenging Proposition
The transport association for the Leipzig public transport region has already issued a statement, claiming that conventional pendulum traffic between the two stations isn't a viable option. Adding more journeys would require filling the minuscule gaps in the heavily trafficked sections of Leipzig Hbf – Leipzig Messe.
Whether such gaps can accommodate additional trains will be evaluated intently. The city council showed a near-unanimous interest in investigating this matter further.
Thomas Kumbernuß (Independent faction) was the lone dissenter. In previous discussions, he cautioned that trains can be rather capricious, and increasing the number of journeys seems unlikely under such circumstances.
The Financial Gap
Left-wing city councillor Enrico Stange remained neutral in the vote, voicing his doubts about the practicality of implementing this proposal, particularly regarding financial considerations for the already cash-strapped train and transport association.
Mayor Burkhard Jung, however, takes a more pragmatic stance: huge events like the book fair inevitably experience traffic congestion and extensive queues around peak times. This isn't exclusive to Leipzig but is a universal issue faced by cities around the world.
It's essential to note that although the Leipzig Book Fair has successfully attracted various institutional and funding partnerships[1][4], currently, no specific plans have been announced for dedicating special "fair trains" between the main train station (Hauptbahnhof) and the fairgrounds. It would likely require direct dialogue with local or national transport authorities to secure funding or partnerships, or seek additional sponsorship from governmental bodies or transport companies to make this vision a reality.
- In the light of the Leipzig Book Fair's growing success, Councillor Marius Wittwer proposes a six-minute "fair special train" ride from the main station to the fairgrounds, which would be an eco-friendly and appealing transport option. (industry, transportation, public-transit)
- Mayor Burkhard Jung acknowledges the universal issue of traffic congestion during large events, and suggests exploring partnerships with transport authorities or companies to secure funding for the implementation of "fair special trains," highlighting the need for a more viable transportation solution during the book fair. (finance, transportation, industry)
