Zurich Friesenberg: Because of the new stop – “I have to give up half of my garden”
Since August 1, due to a change in the power supply on the Uetlibergbahn, a structure made of concrete and steel has been spanning the rail and road access at the Friesenberg station in Wiedikon. What residents think of the scaffolding at the crossing is clearly visible on site: the banners that are placed on it are described as “ugly and unnecessary”. People in the neighborhood refer to it as the “shame of arrogance” or “the monster”.
The resentment in the neighborhood is great. This also applies to Konrad Reininghaus (64), the builder of an apartment building on Friesenbergstrasse. “The monster is right in front of my tenants’ windows and completely blocks their view.” But that’s not his only concern – the Friesenberg stop is being renewed: “With the planned double-track expansion in summer 2024, the relocation and expansion of the stop, I have to give up around half of the garden in front of the house for the SZU project. We will be expropriated.”
He and two other parties who would also be affected do not want to put up with that, says Reininghaus. «The objections of our lawyers are pending. We will do everything to prevent the project.” Financial compensation was promised for the loss of land, but that was not enough for the 64-year-old. “We don’t want money, we want to preserve our environment,” says Reininghaus.
When asked by 20 Minuten, Marco Graf, Head of Marketing and Communication at Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG, said that the renewal of the train station was imperative because the existing station did not meet the requirements of a barrier-free S-Bahn station. “The postponement allows us to meet customer needs and improve punctuality through duplication.” We understand the residents’ discomfort. But you also get a lot of feedback from public transport users who want to move forward with the expansion and improvement of punctuality.
As Graf explains, land is either temporarily claimed or permanently acquired for the project from adjacent properties. We are in contact with the affected landowners. “According to the law, the higher land is compensated at market value.” The right of expropriation could be invoked for purposes that are in the public interest and when they are necessary for the obvious purpose. «For the SZU, expropriations would be the last resort. We are working with everything we have to reach a temporary and early settlement with those affected.”