![Celebrial Presentation of the Declaration on the Mura‘s Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails network [Video 📹]](https://i0.wp.com/mobilitatisomni.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/mura-s-bridge-icone.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1)
Marko Savić
Director of the Institute
16-10-2020: 130 Years of the Radgona Railway (Radkersburger Bahn)
Ceremonial Signature of the Declaration on the Mura's Bridge
Founders, members, and partners of Mobilitatis Omni have marked the 130 years of the Radgona railway (in German: Radkersburger Bahn) opening with the ceremonial signature of the Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network. On October 16th, 2020, 130 years have passed since the opening of the Radgona railway line. This line connected the residents, cities, and regions along the Mura River with the Southern Railway, which connected Vienna with Trieste via Ljubljana and, on the other hand, connected with the Budapest – Pragersko line via Ljutomer and Ormož. Today, these connections are blocked by a missing critical link – the cross-border Mura Bridge.
Presentation of the Declaration
Celebrial Presentation of the Declaration on the Mura‘s Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails network
An online event (Zoom); October 16th, 2020; 14:00 – 14:45. Video (English, subtitles in English; .mp4; 6:15 min; 23 MB).
Transcript of the presentation
What is and when the Mura-Drava-Rails network was established is the first fact I wish to present today. Our institute’s analysis shows, that eight railway network lines established this network. The last one opened in 1924. This Mura-Drava-Rails network spans all the way from Graz in Austria to Maribor and Pragersko in Slovenia. You will see there on the map, from Maribor, there is one line, “Koroška proga” (or English Carinthian rail), that was built in 1863 in direction to Ruše and further to Klagenfurt.
Mura-Drava-Rails network spans in Croatia all the way to Kotoriba, Murakeresztúr, and further to Nagykanizsa in Hungary. In between, there is one important line from Čakovec to Lendava and further to Lenti. The last route from Ormož to Ljutomer and Murska Sobota rounded this network in 1924. Altogether, Mura-Drava-Rails-network had 440 railway kilometres in 1924.
In 1970, we have another situation. Rationalizations of the passenger railway transport and dismantlements of the railway tracks happened in between; as you will see on the map representing the situation of this network in 1970. The railway tracks in red mark the dismantling of the tracks and railway tracks in green mark the abolishment of the passenger railway transport.
As you see, in the 1970s the situation for the Mura-Drava-Rails network was rather depressing. However, today, our current situation in 2020 shows two missing links that prevent the Mura-Drava-Rails network to re-establish again. The first one is Mura’s Bridge on the border of Slovenia and Austria, which the German Army mined at the end of the Second World War. The second missing link is on the border of Slovenia and Hungary, in Lendava, where presumably former authorities removed an estimated seven kilometres of the railway tracks. Therefore, only two missing links in the joint estimated length of only twelve railway kilometres prevent 440 kilometres of the Mura-Drava-Rails network to re-establish again.
That is why today, on October 16th 2020, on the 130. birthday of the Radkesburger Bahn as it is called in German (or Radgonska proga in Slovene) of which Mura’s Bridge was part, we are signing the Mura’s River Bridge Declaration. Please, stick with me, I will now read the Declaration aloud.
Mura River Bridge enables 440 kilometers and more of cross-border inter-regional railway connections in the four countries of the Mura and Drava Rivers regions.
Marko Savić MSc, MSc Director of the Institute Mobilitatis Omni, Murska Sobota
Declaration on the Mura‘s Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails network
Reduction of inter-regional economic and social disparities in the light of the occurring climate change through re-establishment of the cross-border railway missing links and connections represents one of the biggest opportunities for enhanced mobility, economic and sustainable development in European Union border regions.
Immediate response to tackle and address climate change and radically reduce GHG emissions and energy consumption from transport is fundamental. In a complex and intertwined world, rail and other sustainable means of transport play a crucial role in our environment, health, and wellbeing by enabling mobility for all.
Current mobility habits along the Mura and Drava regions and further in Central and Eastern Europe dominated by private motorised modes result not only in increased congestion and pollution but also reduce economic progress and social cohesion.
Closing the cross-border railway missing links and re-establishing cross-borders rail connections in Mura and Drava regions would promote cohesion between the regions in Central Europe and the reduction of interregional economic and social disparities.
Rail and other sustainable modes of transport provide cost-effective mobility for all solutions that benefit the economy, protect the environment and ensure that cities and regions develop and prosper while granting wellbeing to the population.
Our support to the Mura‘s Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails network (MDR-N)
Hereby, founders, members, and partners of Mobilitatis Omni, Murska Sobota confirm our commitment and ambition to support Mobilitatis Omni leadership and activities to re-establish the MDR-N and cross-border interregional connections in estimated length of 440 rail kilometres, that existed already in 1924.
One of the two missing links in the MDR-N in an estimated combined length of twelve kilometres is Mura‘s Bridge on the border of the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Austria.
We support and encourage Mobilitatis Omni leadership and activities to build on existing consensus to re-establish multifunctional cross-border Mura‘s Bridge.
Through Mobilitatis Omni we will be showcasing cross-sectoral efforts and concrete pledges for the re-establishment of the Mura‘s Bridge and MDR-N to the responsible authorities in the Republic of Slovenia, Republic of Austria, and European Union.