As of 11 September 2017, Innsbruck’s No. 6 tram, known locally as the “Igler”, now runs only once daily on weekdays at 7 a.m. for school transportation, and between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays — shortened from until 7 p.m. as of 1 October 2017.

This means that the tram line, which has only recently been fully renovated (with massive subsidies) has now been shut down to an absolute minimum level of operation - its one trip at 7 a.m. on weekdays being just enough service to ensure that the subsidies do not have to be repaid.

Subsidies are taxpayers’ money and should be used for the common good: the ensuring of mobility is a central task of politics, and its social duty. The concepts of unprofitability and deficit must not be applied to the provision of local public transport and services of general economic interest; this is a municipal supply mandate, similar to waste disposal, water, electricity, etc.

A meaningful and attractive offering of services (frequency, connection to the city centre) on this line is a prerequisite for its greater use, i.e. operational services should be enhanced!

The No. 6 tram route is a precious infrastructure which we must not allow to go to waste.