The controversy arose among opposition MPs as the plans for the fast tram to Esch-sur-Alzette have changed. The plans see the tram changing sides over the A4 motorway on two occasions, once in Leudelange and once in Pontpierre, to stop at the activity zone and at the GridX shopping centre. The bridges permitting these stops will render the project more expensive. Although the stops require little in terms of land, Minister of Mobility Yuriko Backes estimates the additional cost will add €100 to €120 million to the budget, which already sits at around €800 million. Pirate Party MP Marc Goergen objected to the new plans during a committee meeting on Thursday.
Backes countered that the demands for the additional stops had come from the mayors of the municipalities concerned. She stated: "There is simply no sense in crossing to the other side for no reason. And if anyone wants to suggest otherwise, I can assure you I have never had any meetings, official or otherwise, with people from GridX. What we are doing here is making sure the tram serves the people – where they work, where they eat, and where they go out in the evening."
The minister said she felt the project had been improved by the changes. But Goergen said he could see who would profit the most: "It's GridX, they get their own tram stop, and if they asked for it then I am of the opinion they should pay towards it. Whether they cover half of the costs or all of them, it's a discussion that should be had."
'They' in this case relates to the entrepreneur Giorgetti.
The LSAP also queried whether the tram would be faster than the train to Esch now that these additional stops had been added to the plans. Claire Delcourt asked: "Will plenty of people opt for the tram, when it ultimately takes the same time to complete the journey by train? And what repercussions will this have on the traffic? Will people choose the tram over their cars?"
The Greens' Meris Sehovic was less concerned over the tram speed, and more worried about the fact that the Leudelange expansion would push the project back by one or two years. The tram is due to run to Foetz by 2031, and will then be expanded out to Belvaux.
"We will put these sections of the route in operation to Metzeschmelz by 2032 and Belvaux town hall by 2035, as planned," promised Luxtram director Helge Dorstewitz.
But Sehovic identified another issue: "That is problematic because this government will only guarantee funding as far as Foetz, and the rest of the project is under a finance reservation, this government has said they won't take responsibility for that."
Yuriko Backes said things would have to be done in order.
