{"id":180810,"date":"2025-02-28T19:36:53","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=60272"},"modified":"2025-02-28T19:36:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:36:53","slug":"german-association-asks-for-removal-of-infrastructure-management-tasks-from-db","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=180810","title":{"rendered":"German association asks for removal of infrastructure management tasks from DB"},"content":{"rendered":"

The German people elected their new government, with the Christian Democrats (CDU) getting the largest slice of the pie, as expected, and now working to create a coalition to rule. One of the spotlight for the new government will be on the railways. Industry association Die G\u00fcterbahnen has now put forward three requests for the benefits of rail freight.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The first and main adjustment brought up by Die G\u00fcterbahnen is the removal of infrastructure management tasks from the Deutsche Bahn group, which currently does it via its subsidiary DB InfraGO. \u201cThe federal government’s management and control functions should then be carried out by a Federal Office for Rail Infrastructure (BaSchi) modeled on the Swiss Federal Office of Transport\u201d, the association claimed. The CDU seems to be keen on implementing such a solution.<\/p>\n

A new TAC scheme and a multi-year financing plan<\/h2>\n

Secondly, they are asking for a solution to the issue of track access charges (TAC), which are on the rise and expected to continue to increase in Germany as well as elsewhere in Europe. \u201cThere is a risk of a further price jump of 50 percent or more from the end of 2025 if the profit demanded by DB InfraGO is not capped by law\u201d. What\u2019s needed, Die G\u00fcterbahnen argues, is a system way to calculate TAC which \u201cmust be decided by 2026 at the latest\u201d.<\/p>\n

Finally, the German rail freight association is highlighting the need for a multi-year financing plan for renovation, maintenance and expansion of the country\u2019s rail network. The modal shift \u201ccannot develop if funds accelerate new road construction for better or for worse, while the funds for rail are again lacking\u201d, Die G\u00fcterbahnen added. \u201cGermany should one day be able to be proud of its rail transport again\u201d, concluded the association CEO Ludolf Kerkeling.<\/p>\n