Ramboll supports development of new light-rail network in Bavaria

Growth in the Bavarian industrial heartland has prompted the German region to develop a new light-rail network in order to connect three cities – Nuremberg, Erlangen and Herzogenaurach.

With 12.9 million inhabitants and a size that comprises roughly a fifth of the total land area of Germany, Bavaria, a region in Germany’s South Eastern corner, is a powerhouse in the country’s economy. While much of the economic activity can be attributed to Munich, Bavaria's capital and largest city and Germany’s third-largest city, initiatives are being designed across the region to diversify industrial and professional services activities. One such initiative is the new light-rail network that, once operational, will connect Nuremberg, Erlangen and Herzogenaurach.

As it stands, the region around Nuremberg, an advanced industrials-focused economy, counts over 500,000 people – many of whom use public transport to commute to work and vice versa. As the population of the cities grows, the three German cities are investing in additional public transport capacity. Accordingly, enhanced public transport is forecasted to unlock a host of benefits, particularly around employment mobility and the reduction of congestion, air pollution and vehicle accidents.

Engineering consultancy firm Ramboll has been tasked with providing technical planning expertise for the design of the project, which will look at, among other things, local considerations that could improve the wider transport ecosystem, such as the effects of the immediate habitat, bike lanes, access roads, pavements and urban design. The consulting firm will also meet with local communities to identify needs and concerns around the design of the network. The firm expects the initial planning phase to be completed by the end of 2020.

After go-live, the project will provide for the transport needs of around 10,000 people per day – while further integrating with the wider public transport system in the region, such as bus and rail services. According to a study by The Boston Consulting Group (BGC), Germany is home to Europe’s fourth best rail network, trailing just Switzerland, Denmark and Finland.

Commenting on the project in Germany, Anne-Catrin Norkauer, Team Leader Rail at Ramboll in Germany, said, “This is currently one of the most exciting public transport projects in Germany. The enthusiasm of the community and politicians is astonishing and motivates us to speed up this ambitious project.”

Meanwhle, in France’s public transport sector, public railway group SNCF recently signed two IT consulting contracts with CGI.

Related: Amsterdam and Stockholm lead the way for urban mobility in Europe.