Retrospective: Youth consultation event on the future of rail transport

The aim of the event was to gain a deeper insight into the priorities of young people as potential users in relation to the expansion or non-expansion of the rail network. Despite the fact that young people will be particularly affected by such projects in the future, their perspectives are often overlooked and not adequately included in the decision-making process. This event aimed to fill this gap and give priority to the wishes and needs of young people.

Participants were enthusiastic about the opportunity to present their perspectives at the event and engaged in discussions in a relaxed atmosphere that were characterised by a high level of engagement. Ultimately, many expressed a desire to continue discussing the issues and questions raised, but were also satisfied with the contribution they were able to make over the two days.

In terms of the issues discussed, it can be concluded that young people generally attach great importance to the development and modernisation of rail transport and have specific demands for the future of rail transport. A summary of the key findings is as follows:

The majority of participants identified transport policy objectives as a primary concern. This was frequently informed by climate policy considerations, with the objective of making rail an attractive alternative to car and air travel for a broader population.

The young people consulted considered spatial planning to be of paramount importance in the context of nature conservation. However, they also attached importance to the protection of local residents. The potential risks and inconveniences for residents caused by the expansion and modernisation of the railway network could, according to the participants, be reduced by increased investment, for example in improved noise protection. Overall, the majority of the participants were generally willing to accept trade-offs in terms of spatial planning aspects if transport policy objectives could be better and more sustainably achieved. In addition, they considered the protection of residents to be achievable through increased investment.

Cost considerations were not seen as an absolute factor by all participants. Instead, they argued that costs should be discussed primarily in relation to the expected benefits. They saw an urgent need to increase the attractiveness of rail transport through an expansion or modernisation initiative. They also expressed a preference for more expensive solutions if they lead to longer-term functionality and thus greater passenger satisfaction.