Groundbreaking ceremony for tram in the north of Munich: Citizens doubt the costs!

Groundbreaking ceremony for tram in the north of Munich: Citizens doubt the costs!

Today, October 7, 2025, Munich started a pioneering project with the groundbreaking ceremony for the new “Munich North” tram line. The aim of the measure is to improve the connections to the districts in the north of Munich, especially in the Schwabing and Freimann areas. The expected total costs for this major project amount to around 360 million euros, with the benefit-cost ratio being achieved at an encouraging 2.61. This enables state funding of up to 90 percent, which is a big plus for the city SWM reported.

Nevertheless, there is already criticism among the citizens of Schwabing-Freimann. Many express concerns about the high costs and the expected long construction period, which may entail economic and logistical inconveniences. However, Mayor Dieter Reiter emphasized that the project not only contributes to increasing mobility, but is also seen as an important step towards sustainable transport development in the region.

Planned route and construction progress

The new tram line 24 will cover the route between Am Hart and Kieferngarten, while the existing tram 23 will be extended by six stops to the new terminus at U-Bahnhof Am Hart. In addition, the construction of a new bridge with pedestrian and cycle paths over the track system on the DB-Nordring is planned from 2026 in order to increase accessibility and safety for all road users.

MVG boss Ingo Wortmann highlights the advantages of the shift from car traffic to local public transport. Loud German railway Investments in public transport pay off in many ways: every euro invested in this area brings an average benefit of three euros to the national economy. Local public transport is therefore not only an important part of public services, but also an important economic factor.

The future of Munich's local transport

In the coming weeks, the city council will discuss the second planning approval phase, which deals with the development from Neufreimann to Am Hart. The first preparatory measures have already begun and construction is scheduled to start in the fall. The planned commissioning of the entire route is scheduled for the end of 2029. The city of Munich relies on open communication in order to integrate citizens' concerns into this process and to clearly communicate the advantages of the transport project.

In conclusion, despite the criticism and challenges associated with the construction of the Munich North tram, it is a long-term project that could sustainably improve both mobility and the quality of life in the region. The city has shown itself to have a good hand with this major project, which shows interesting perspectives for Munich's transport network.