Looking Back On a Positive Anniversary Year

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On the occasion of this year's annual general meeting of the 'Society For The Preservation Of The Wiehl Valley Railway', which traditionally took place just before Christmas at the 'Workers' Welfare Association’ (AWO) in Waldbröl, chairman Gerhard Mansel could look back on a successful anniversary year of the community organisation.

In his report, Mansel declared himself happy about the very positive participation in the anniversary event in October and the talks resulting from this.

The anniversary event in the community hall of Waldbröl was well-attendedThe anniversary event in the community hall of Waldbröl was well-attended

 

After the presentations there was the opportunity for the exchange of views and a small snackAfter the presentations there was the opportunity for the exchange of views and light refreshments

The permanent reactivation of the Wiehl valley railway for local public transport completely occupied centre stage. Here the discussion on climate change plays a central role, the consequence being that the cry for more and better local public transport is growing ever louder. The reactivation of railway lines is high on the priority list in this regard. To turn rhetoric into action, the upper house of the German Parliament (Bundesrat) agreed to a draft law of the German Government a few days ago. This draft law provides a massive improvement of the 'law concerning federal financial grants for the improvement of transport facilities of the communities (GVFG)'. Until 2025 the funding will grow by up to 2 billion Euros annually and after that continuously be further boosted. For the reactivation of railway lines an extra high funding rate of up to 90% will be granted. "In the face of such a funding, the councils and the district will have to bear virtually no costs for the reactivation of the Wiehl valley railway.", Mansel stated in his presentation. "By that we hope for an obvious re-vitalisation and acceleration of the talks about the reactivation of the Wiehl valley railway."

The members of the of the managing committee of the 'Society For The Preservation Of The Wiehl Valley Railway' were confirmed in office by the participants of the annual general meeting with a large majority.