Cities
Will Bremen still get a cable car?
The bridges in Bremen’s city center need to be renovated, which will continue to cause closures and traffic disruptions in the coming months.
In light of the current traffic situation, the CDU Bremen has proposed the construction of a cable car. This is being reported by the Weser Kurier and the radio station buten un binnen, which has also relied on information from us, SI Urban, in its research.
According to Bremen’s media, this is not the first time a cable car has been discussed in Bremen politics: the idea was first raised in 2019 by the economic department. However, it was dismissed back then as unfeasible.
The new proposal
The CDU is now once again suggesting the construction of a cable car for Bremen to alleviate public transport. In a small inquiry to the Bremen Senate, the party argues that a cable car could be quickly implemented and easily integrated into the existing transport network.
The CDU mentions three potential routes: from the Waterfront over Lankenauer Höft to Waller Sand, from the Überseestadt to Woltmershausen, and from Bremen’s city center to Neustadt.
Bremen's Old Town is a popular travel destination.
What advantages would a cable car have for Bremen?
A cable car offers numerous benefits, explains Michael Jonitz, mobility spokesperson for the CDU Bremen, in response to an inquiry from the radio station. One key point is the short construction time – the system could be completed within six to twelve months.
The costs also speak in favor of this mode of transport, according to the CDU, which relies on an article from us (SI Urban) from 2023. According to this, the cost per kilometer of cable car route is between 3.5 and 19 million euros. For comparison: a kilometer of tram track costs between 11 and 22 million euros, while subway construction is significantly more expensive, at 45 to 133 million euros per kilometer.
Additionally, the staffing requirements are low due to automation, which allows for longer operating hours, Jonitz adds. Furthermore, cable cars are considered the most energy-efficient motorized mode of transport.
The Weser as an obstacle.
The Weser River divides the city of Bremen, and bridges are essential connections. Will this soon also apply to a cable car?
How does the mobility department evaluate the proposal?
Whether a cable car is feasible cannot be reliably assessed at this time, explained Aygün Kilincsoy, spokesperson for the mobility department, in response to an inquiry from buten un binnen.
“Given the current challenges in the area of bridges, we are actively considering innovative mobility solutions – and the idea of a cable car is explicitly included.”
Currently, it is being examined whether a cable car could be considered as an alternative or complement to another bridge. However, such projects come with “complex challenges.”
Kilincsoy explains that the construction planning is more demanding than for a bridge, and the developer would need to be specialized in cable cars. Additionally, maintenance and upkeep are more difficult. Also, citizens must be involved in the decision-making process regarding the route.
Traditional modes of transport:
In the city center, Bremen currently relies on trams and buses.
Challenges in implementation
A cable car over the Weser in western Bremen presents a challenge primarily due to its classification as a shipping lane from the Stephanibrücke onwards, explains Carsten-Wilm Müller, professor of transportation and urban planning at Bremen University of Applied Sciences.
He has been involved with the topic since the early stages of the idea – in 2019, Economic State Secretary Ekkehart Siering (SPD) introduced the idea of a cable car, according to Müller.
To ensure that the cable car cabins reach the required minimum height of 54 meters above the water, the cable car supports would need to be at least 75 meters high. However, this problem can be relatively easily solved: the Weser could be reclassified, as no large ships dock there anyway – the river does not have enough depth for that, according to Müller.
Another obstacle could be resistance from the population. According to traffic expert Müller, many projects have failed because residents expressed concerns, especially about the possibility of passengers looking into their homes or onto their balconies from above. Therefore, it is crucial to involve citizens early in the planning process.
A wide range of benefits:
Urban cable cars network, connect, expand, relieve, close gaps, and overcome obstacles.
Why have cable car plans failed in Bremen so far?
At the end of 2019, the then mobility senator Maike Schaefer (Greens) stated that the construction of a cable car in the Überseestadt was neither feasible nor financially viable. Volker Stahmann, economic policy spokesperson for the SPD, also saw no priority for the project and pointed out the high costs.
Originally, the plans were promoted by the economic department under SPD leadership. In January 2019, the then State Secretary Ekkehardt Siering presented the idea and proposed a cable car connection from Gröpelingen over the Weser to the Europahafen.
This proposal immediately sparked great interest and led to initial investigations. A group of students at Bremen University, led by transportation expert Müller, developed the foundations for an internal evaluation by the authorities.
When presented in May, they concluded that a cable car would be fundamentally feasible – but it would need to cross the Weser in order to relieve the heavily congested Stephanibrücke and the B75. Particularly the daily commuter traffic and access from the Überseestadt are seen as the main causes of the long traffic jams in the new Bremen city district.
