Petition Handovers Complete: Transrapid Petition Now in the Hands of Politicians
Three handovers of the petition to revive the Transrapid in Germany have been completed. With 61,926 signatures, nearly 18,000 comments and a comprehensive position paper, a clear signal was sent for a future-proof transport policy – and the formal route into the political institutions has now been fully taken.
Handovers to the ministry and the Bundestag completed
On July 9, 2025, the complete petition package was delivered by mail to the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) , addressed to Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder. It contains all the signatures, supporters’ personal comments and a position paper covering all aspects and advantages of the Transrapid.
A few days later, on July 21, 2025, the official handover to the Petitions Committee of the German Bundestag (German parliament) followed – also in written form, as a package sent to the Bundestag’s mail room.
Offers of political talks mostly unanswered or declined
In addition to the formal deliveries, all parliamentary groups and all members of the Transport Committee and the Petitions Committee were contacted – with an invitation to receive the petition package in person and discuss its contents. These requests were deliberately made in a politically neutral way.
The response was sobering, however: almost all parliamentary groups declined or did not respond at all. Only several members of the AfD parliamentary group in the Bundestag signaled interest and willingness for a personal handover. SPD member of parliament Ruppert Stüwe had also initially agreed but canceled again one day before the planned date.
So on June 27, 2025, a personal handover to AfD members of parliament took place in Berlin. The central contents of the petition were handed over and individual aspects of the Transrapid concept were discussed.
Willingness to talk remains
Even though the petition has now been officially handed over, the offer of dialogue remains: should members of parliament or parliamentary groups – regardless of party affiliation – declare themselves willing to schedule a personal handover in the future, I am ready at any time. An additional handover is possible at any time.
A signal to politicians
With almost 62,000 supporters, the petition is a clear signal to German politicians: the call for a technological restart in long-distance travel has reached the mainstream of society. The Transrapid does not stand for nostalgia here – but for a return to engineering excellence, technological openness and a long-term transport strategy.
