(kus) "I am pleased that RMV will gradually allow suburban trains to run at night from December 2017," said Frankfurt Mayor Peter Feldmann of the corresponding plans. "This will further bring the region together and make it more attractive." Feldmann went on to announce that the city of Frankfurt would gradually begin introducing night services on inner-city underground and tram lines from December 2018. "The great success of the night bus network shows that there is a corresponding demand," said the Lord Mayor. "In an urban metropolis, citizens simply expect a corresponding offer. With the simultaneous introduction of the continuous night service on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and tram, public transport will also be optimally networked at night."
Head of Transport Klaus Oesterling said that a continuous half-hourly service would be offered on connections that are in high demand during the night. To this end, he said, a special night line network was to be created, some of which would run on routes and line numbers that differed from daytime services.
The tram night network could consist of the tram lines line 11 Höchst-Gallus-Hauptbahnhof-Ostbahnhof-Fechenheim, line 12 Nacht Schwanheim - Niederrad - Hauptbahnhof - Innenstadt - Gravensteiner Platz and line 16 Ginnheim - Hauptbahnhof - Südbahnhof - Oberrad - Offenbach Stadtgrenze.
The underground night network could be composed of the lines U2 night Südbahnhof - Heddernheim - Niederursel - Riedberg - Kalbach - Nieder-Eschbach, possibly with wings to Ginnheim, U4 Bockenheimer Warte - Seckbacher Landstraße, U5 night Konstablerwache - Preungesheim and U7 night Heerstraße - Hauptwache - Enkheim. The existing night bus network would then have to be adapted accordingly.
The new services require neither additional routes nor additional vehicles. Already manageable passenger increases would finance the additional traffic.
By extending night services to the rail network, the city is also implementing a mandate from the coalition agreement between the CDU, SPD and Greens, the transport chief said.
