{"id":301057,"date":"2025-10-14T00:11:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T14:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=66607"},"modified":"2025-10-14T00:11:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T14:11:29","slug":"germany-awaits-a-new-tac-increase-will-it-be-on-time-to-curb-the-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=301057","title":{"rendered":"Germany awaits a new TAC increase, will it be on time to curb the damage?"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 14 December, track access charges (TACs) in Germany will increase. The initial forecast was that they would grow by 35%, but the country has a chance to limit that to 16%. Nevertheless, rail freight companies are not yet satisfied, and demand an overhaul of the TAC system.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Germany\u2019s notoriously complicated TAC system will strike again. TACs are certain to grow again on 14 December, increasing costs for rail freight companies further. There is a shimmer of hope on the horizon, and it takes the shape of a legal proposal that will be discussed in Germany\u2019s parliamentary transport committee on 13 October.<\/p>\n

The plan is the following: The German government wants to reduce infrastructure manager DB InfraGO\u2019s maximum return on equity by three percentage points. Because of how the German TAC system works, that would limit how much profit DB InfraGO can legally make on their track access charge income.<\/p>\n

Now, explains German private rail freight association Die G\u00fcterbahnen, DB InfraGO is entitled to a maximum profit margin of 5.2%. Reducing that by three points would lower that number to 2%, which would limit next year\u2019s TAC costs for rail operators in Germany.<\/p>\n

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Image: Shutterstock \u00a9 1take1shot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Still a 16% increase<\/h2>\n

\u201cLimit\u201d is the key word here. Such a step \u201cis far from sufficient to stabilise track access charges\u201d, explains Die G\u00fcterbahnen. \u201cOn the contrary \u2013 they would rise again by up to 16%, following the 16.2% increase last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rail freight association laments the ever-growing and unpredictable \u201crail toll\u201d, whereas the road sector has remained stable and predictable for several years. “Imagine buying a car today \u2013 but not finding out what it actually costs until six months from now\u201d, rail policy offer Oliver Smock said. “That’s exactly how the current track pricing system works \u2013 and it’s unsustainable for companies.”<\/p>\n

Die G\u00fcterbahnen calls for DB InfraGO\u2019s return on equity to be set at 0%, \u201cthus completely foregoing any return on investment.\u201d That would reduce the cost burden for rail freight by around a billion euros, according to the association.<\/p>\n

Race against time<\/h2>\n

The hope is that the German parliament will succeed in revising and passing the law ahead of the timetable change on 14 December, so that rail freight can immediately benefit. \u201cIn the medium term, the federal government must initiate the fundamental reform of the track access pricing system announced in the coalition agreement \u2013 \u200b\u200bwith stable prices, genuine efficiency incentives, and a consistent focus on the common good.\u201d<\/p>\n