A petitioner is calling for the construction of a monorail linking the capital to four towns, including three over the border, in a bid to reduce traffic Delano archives

A petitioner is calling for the construction of a monorail linking the capital to four towns, including three over the border, in a bid to reduce traffic Delano archives

Guy Rollinger’s petition 921 calls for the creation of a zero emission Ecorail, built along railway tracks to Esch-sur-Alzette, Arlon, Trier and Thionville. Construction of the new means of transport, he writes, would not impact existing public transport or require purchase of land.

He justifies the project by pointing out that over 180,000 cross-border workers come to Luxembourg each day. The traffic problems generated by their movements as well as the journeys of residents “are getting more dramatic every day,” he writes. He says the routes proposed would have to be studied further.

In case anyone questions whether Mr Rollinger is not simply looking to make work for his own construction group, he concludes that his motivation is simply to “offer ideas to combat problems facing the Luxembourg population, without bringing any profits.”

It is not the first time the idea has been mooted. In 2015, a French proposal to build a Thionville-Luxembourg City monorail link was dismissed by the infrastructure ministry, a spokesperson for which said that its long-term development programme did not have space for such extras.

Other petitions up for signature

The petition was one of six to go live on Thursday. The others include 927, calling for a more ambitious climate goal, 928 enshrining the right for a child to finish primary school at the same place they began, 912 creating a car sticker for workers to park without restrictions, 914 to reform tax rates on non-recurring remuneration and 923, introducing a free nursery school system and home schools.

Anyone may sign an electronic petition provided they are aged 15 or over and registered in Luxembourg. These petitions close on 1 March, 2018. If they reach 4,500 signatures, the proposals will receive a public debate. Since the creation of the public petitions tool in March 2014, 22 public debates have been held in this way.