Resistance to Lucie light rail: local politics sounds the alarm!

Resistance to Lucie light rail: local politics sounds the alarm!

In the Ludwigsburg district there is increasing resistance to the planned routes for the Lucie light rail. The Stadtbahn Action Alliance expresses concerns about the overall project and questions the reactivation of the Markgröninger Bahn. These critical voices not only come from local politics, but also reflect the concerns of urban society and the citizens of Möglingen. The association boss Michael Ilk presented a new route in April 2025, which was met with mixed reactions.

The discussion about the light rail is further fueled by the action alliance's proposal to divide the project into two parts: a western section from Ludwigsburg to Markgröningen and Schwieberdingen and an eastern section to Remseck-Pattonville. Klaus Arnoldi, spokesman for the alliance, emphasizes that the reactivation of the Markgröninger Railway should not fail due to a veto by the Ludwigsburg local council. He also expresses doubts about the support from middle-class factions in the local council, while, according to Ludwigsburg's Mayor Knecht, the majority of the population is against the light rail plans.

Resistance and concerns

A central element of the criticism is the planned route, in particular the problems with the Schiller Passage and the station forecourt, which the critics believe have not been sufficiently taken into account. Arnoldi therefore calls for a revision of the planning in order to find politically acceptable solutions. A proposal made in 2021 for the light rail to enter the central bus station was rejected, which further illustrates the disparity between the planners and the citizens.

The citizens' initiative from Möglingen also supports the rejection of the reactivation of only a section for worrying reasons. She criticizes the lack of public discourse on this important infrastructure project. At a citizens' information event in Möglingen, only the entire project was presented without a critical discussion being possible. The ongoing cost-benefit analysis is coming into focus because it is considered to be flawed - in particular, the forecast passenger numbers appear unrealistic.

The dilemma of citizen participation

Overall, the debate about the Lucie light rail highlights the challenges of citizen participation in Germany. Despite the legal requirements for participation in transport planning, many citizens have not felt sufficiently included in the past. This has often led to protests and resistance. Although a good transport system is crucial for economic development, public acceptance must also be ensured so that infrastructure projects can be realized. Basic requirements for citizen participation were set out in a handbook in November 2012, which is now becoming more relevant again. It offers suggestions for better citizen engagement and can serve as a guide for future projects to address the challenges ahead.

In Markgröningen there are already concerns about overloading the infrastructure, especially at the intersection to the school center, which could be exacerbated by possible construction sites. In addition, the noise protection limits are considered difficult to comply with due to the development. The Möglinger Initiative sees the entire project as vulnerable and fears that it could become a “suicide mission”.

The planned light rail lines therefore remain a hotly debated issue in the Ludwigsburg district, which will continue to concern both politicians and residents.