Ferryman - get over
Lüchow-Dannenberg and Prignitz districts support the two Elbe ferries
In order to secure the Elbe ferries "Ilka" and "Westprignitz", the two districts of Lüchow-Dannenberg (Lower Saxony) and Prignitz (Brandenburg) have agreed on cross-border financing.
of 100,000 euros was agreed. The members of both district councils have agreed to the annual payments of 50,000 euros each, thereby also demonstrating their interest in the cross-border transport link across the Elbe.
District Administrator Dagmar Schulz and District Administrator Christian Müller sign financing agreement
On both sides of the Elbe, "we have the same problems and are working on improvements at the administrative level in a truly targeted manner," says Lüchow-Dannenberg District Administrator Dagmar Schulz. Working people commute across the Elbe on the ferries, and even ambulances and patient transports use the two ferries. And for Lüchow-Dannenberg, the connection is also an important link to Wittenberge railway station.
"It is an important joint signal," adds Prignitz District Administrator Christian Müller. The ferries are also of great importance for tourist transport, especially for the Elbe cycle route. Together with both administrations and local politicians, the aim now is to see how the reliability of the ferries can be stabilised and optimised.
The ferry operator is the Amt Lenzen-Elbtalaue. Local authority director Harald Ziegeler also signed the cross-border agreement. This is because the two ferries do not cover their costs with fare revenue alone. The Elbe ferry "Ilka" connects the towns of Lütkenwisch and Schnackenburg in Lower Saxony; the "Westprignitz" travels between Lenzen in Brandenburg and Pevestorf opposite.
Brandenburg's Minister Rainer Genilke praises joint action
The ferry connections across the Elbe are not the only thing the region has in common. Brandenburg's Minister for Infrastructure Rainer Genilke also spoke with District Administrator Schulz and his counterpart Müller about future prospects and new ideas. For example, about an autonomous ferry. In addition to the age of the ships and the associated repairs, it is also difficult to find personnel with the appropriate shipping licence.
Such ideas, for example on new forms of mobility, are to be researched in the Elbe Valley. The project is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and works in the four-state region in the districts of Lüchow-Dannenberg, Prignitz, Stendal and Ludwigslust-Parchim.