ATTAC member Geißler had a chance to blow the sick fish out of the water but he wasted his chance by endorsing some mezzo less bad 'compromise'. Canceling the project now was deemed "too expensive". As if continuing the project was any cheaper.

Cost of canceling was estimated 1.4 billion as calculated by former speaker Drexler, some moron with the Bundestag said 2 billion, and lately DB said 3 billion. No matter that only ~200 million have actually been spent so far (including lots of commissions for DB) and those inflated sums include future profits. Rolling back would actually cost 500 million max. How 'expensive' is that in light of 7 billion project cost (~12 billion overall)?

The 3 billion estimate by DB is especially interesting. It's basically the 1.4b plus 1.5b that would have to be invested over the next 40 years. So even DB indirectly admits that S21 is not necessary.

Now we have to wait for the elections and for results of the magical "stress test", a computer simulation of the current plans. Results are not expected till summer. Apparently, Deutsche Bahn wants to do it all by itself and state transport minister Gönner already 'knows' that two extra tracks in the new station won't be required. Yeah, yeah! Like the banks doing their own "stress tests" and guess what: they don't need extra capital.

Now there is heady chatter that "this will change everything", "from now on big projects won't go forward without serious citizen involvement", "democracy improvement" and all that blabla. Sure, but that still doesn't resolve the issue of idiotic projects being selected (or dreamed up) in the first place. "60 alternatives were examined!" say the proponents of S21. Yes, you jokers! 60 alternatives within S21.

Nor does the transient change of attitude resolve the issue of ongoing projects that are definitely going to break our backs.

Hopefully, we will have some BahnLeaks shortly (German).

_{Schengen is toast!}