Railway ticket prices may potentially increase
The federal government is facing criticism for its lack of action on a significant track price subsidy for rail, with key industry figures and political spokespersons calling for increased financial support.
According to Paula Piechotta, the Green Party's budget spokesperson, the federal government lacks the parliamentary strength for a noticeable track price subsidy for rail. This sentiment is shared by Dirk Flege, who leads Allianz pro Schiene, and Neele Wesseln, managing director of Rail Freight. They believe that the current levels of subsidy are not enough to address the challenges faced by rail freight and long-distance rail traffic.
The budget committee has not made any changes to the reduction of track prices in rail freight, with 275 million euros still planned for 2025. However, the Federal Ministry of Transport has increased the track price subsidy for rail freight by around 46 million euros compared to 2024 for 2025. The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) has stated that up to 350 million euros in freight traffic is needed to address rising track prices and intense competition with road freight traffic.
Martin Burkert, chairman of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG), described the non-increase of the track price subsidy as a major mistake. Burkert has asked the management of Deutsche Bahn to quickly present necessary measures in the supervisory board to address this situation.
The industry's concerns are not unfounded, as the coalition's actions are provoking noticeable price increases for rail passengers and companies that transport their goods by rail. From autumn onwards, there can be expected to be significantly higher ticket prices for rail customers.
In the final deliberations of the budget committee on the 2025 budget, there were no changes to the reduction of track prices in rail freight. Looking ahead to the 2026 budget negotiations, the search results do not provide information on the name of the person requesting financial support for the track price subsidy.
Dirk Flege criticized the budget committee for not increasing the track price subsidy, stating that high track prices are being passed on to both rail freight customers and long-distance rail passengers, which is unacceptable. Neele Wesseln called for the federal government to increase the track price subsidy and set a clear signal for the competitiveness of rail.
This supports the rail industry in paying the rail track toll, a crucial aspect for the continued operation and development of rail services. The reduced offer in long-distance rail traffic is also anticipated, adding to the concerns about the future of rail in Germany.
In conclusion, the debate over the track price subsidy for rail continues to intensify, with industry figures and political spokespersons urging the federal government to take action to address the challenges faced by rail freight and long-distance rail traffic. The federal government's response to these calls will be closely watched in the coming months.
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