Erlangen city-surrounding railway: Is support now coming from Berlin?

Erlangen city-surrounding railway: Is support now coming from Berlin?

In the current discussion about the Erlangen city-surrounding railway, the applicant Alexander Schwemmer has submitted a request for information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (IFG) as well as the Environmental Information Act (UIG) and the Administrative Procedure Act (VIG). His aim is to obtain information about the current status of the urban-surrounding railway within the framework of the federal program for the Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG). This was announced on January 18, 2026, as fragdenstaat.de reported.

The application specifically requests an excerpt from the current federal program GVFG, as well as information about whether the Erlangen city-surrounding railway is actually part of this program. In addition to the requested key figures such as start date, category, total costs and eligible costs, Schwemmer also hopes for an exemption or reduction in possible fees in accordance with Section 2 IFGGebV, as he sees the request as simple information. The deadline for providing the information is one month. If this deadline is not met, please notify us.

Federal funding for local public transport

The GVFG plays an important role in the financing of large projects in rail-based local public transport (ÖPNV). The federal government supports this project financially, which could also include the Erlangen city-surrounding railway if it is included in the federal program. Since the third law amending the GVFG came into force on January 1, 2020, which creates new funding criteria, federal financial aid has increased. In 2020, these amounted to around 665 million euros. From 2021, the federal government will provide one billion euros annually for such projects, and from 2025 the target is even two billion euros, with an annual increase of 1.8% from 2026 bmv.de described in detail.

These financial resources can be used for a variety of measures: from the construction of new city trains, trams or subways to the electrification and reactivation of rail lines. Basic renovations are also eligible for funding until 2030. However, it is necessary that a standardized assessment of transport infrastructure investments in public transport is carried out in order to prove the economic viability of the funded projects.

Transparency through the Environmental Information Act

Alexander Schwemmer's concern also reflects the goal of the Environmental Information Act, which regulates access to environmental information. As on the website of Federal Environment Ministry explains, the aim is to enable citizens to receive information about environmental data provided by authorities. This is important not only for the current case, but for transparency and public participation as a whole.

Overall, Schwemmer's request shows how important it is for a community to receive funding for local public transport projects in order to sustainably improve the infrastructure and keep citizens mobile. The next steps towards clear information about the urban-surrounding railway are now pending, and the authorities' response could be crucial for future planning and implementation.