Expansion of the regional railway in the central Salzburg area: A comprehensive approach for a region worth living in

The expansion of the regional railway in the central Salzburg area is currently being discussed too narrowly and in detail. The central question is not “if” the regional railway will be expanded, but rather “when” and, above all, “what” a future-oriented and sustainable design can look like. We would like to address this crucial “how” and present a more comprehensive, visionary approach.

In our view, the current S-Link and Messe-Bahn plans are only a first step, as they focus primarily on the development of the old town and its tourism-oriented aspects. However, the aim of the regional rail expansion should primarily be to increase the quality of life of Salzburg residents by creating a city and regional structure that focuses on the needs of the population. Salzburg’s tourism has already reached a point that is becoming increasingly problematic for quality tourism; Therefore, the focus should be on developing high-quality urban space for residents.

Livable urban districts and their interconnectedness as a central goal

The goal of a future-oriented light rail concept should be to create urban centers and attractive places to stay that have the potential to develop into lively district centers and to link them together. Despite the relatively small size of the city of Salzburg and its provincial characteristics – which I, as a native of Salzburg, readily recognize – it is a mistake to believe that the region does not need a supra-regional transport concept and that the existing infrastructure could be sufficient. The opposite is the case: the future will largely depend on how quickly and efficiently central and peripheral hubs such as train stations, airports and mobility hubs can be reached.

Infrastructure for a growing region

Planning these hubs requires clever positioning, multifunctionality and a structural density that simultaneously creates attractive public space. Only in this way can less central districts and surrounding communities be connected in a meaningful way in terms of infrastructure in order to curb urban sprawl, land sealing and the lack of affordable housing. A well thought-out and comprehensive railway concept gives the entire region a future perspective and prevents monofunctional sleeping villages in the periphery.

The future viability of the central area includes the entire metropolitan area from Hallein to Seekirchen and from Berchtesgaden via Bad Reichenhall to Laufen and Oberndorf – a catchment area of ​​around 400,000 people. The currently planned S-Link project including the trade fair railway is just a first step. We need further targeted measures such as the reactivation of the Ischl route, the Berchtesgaden railway and a southern route from Wals to Grödig in order to create a future-oriented and more resilient transport landscape.