The district of Ludwigsburg and the neighboring municipalities are working together in the Zweckverband Stadtbahn im Landkreis Ludwigsburg to develop a light rail system around Ludwigsburg (LUCIE). The first, early expansion stage of the planned network is the branch line from Ludwigsburg to Markgröningen. This DB branch line was decommissioned in 2005 by the owner and operator, Deutsche Bahn (DB Netz AG), and is to be reactivated for modern light rail transportation by the end of the decade. After that, the Markgröningen line is expected to carry over 10,000 passengers per day.
The Zweckverband Stadtbahn im Landkreis Ludwigsburg wants to expand and renovate the line specifically for future light rail operations. For this reason, Deutsche Bahn and the Ludwigsburg district agreed in 2021 that the special-purpose association could lease the line for this purpose.
Agreement on the long-term lease agreement
After intensive negotiations, agreement has now been reached on the long-term lease agreement for the Ludwigsburg - Markgröningen branch line: The special-purpose association will lease the line from Deutsche Bahn from January 1, 2026.
DB Group representative for the state of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Clarissa Freundorfer, says: "The reactivation of the Markgröningen line will strengthen local public transport in the region. We are delighted that the way is now clear for the special-purpose association to expand this line for the light rail and to attract even more people to the climate-friendly rail network in future. Every kilometer of track is active climate protection."
District Administrator Allgaier: "This has cut a major knot and reached a milestone"
District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier, Chairman of the Zweckverband Stadtbahn im Landkreis Ludwigsburg, also sees the conclusion of the lease agreement as positive: "I would like to thank you for the constructive negotiations and the good result. This is a major milestone for the accelerated reactivation of the Markgröninger Bahn and the first expansion stage of our LUCIE light rail system. Our special-purpose association can now press ahead with the planning at full speed so that the excavators can start rolling as soon as possible and then the trains."
Michael Ilk, Managing Director of the special-purpose association, adds: "The conclusion of the lease agreement marks significant progress for our project. By securing the route for the long term, we can now press ahead with the planning for light rail operations with confidence. At the same time, we are laying the foundations for a sustainable mobility service that will benefit future generations."
