Despite all the problems on the rails, the demand for long-distance transport by Deutsche Bahn continues to grow: the state-owned group expects around 155 million passengers in its own ICE and IC trains for the current year, as the German Press Agency learned from supervisory board circles.
That would be a passenger record in long-distance traffic. Around 132 million travelers were transported there last year. In the previous record year 2019 there were 151 million.
Bahn boss: Climate goals within reach
According to the coalition agreement, the federal government wants to double the number of passengers in long-distance rail transport by 2030 compared to 2015. From the point of view of many experts and the industry, this requires significantly more investment in rail. The network is considered to be completely outdated and overloaded in many places. A main reason for the high unpunctuality in the past year.
The governing coalition therefore promised additional billions this week. It assumes an investment requirement of around 45 billion euros by 2027. This is to be financed with the revenue from the truck toll, which is to be increased for this purpose.
The railway industry assessed the agreement mostly positively. “Now the conditions have been created to consistently modernize and digitize our outdated and fault-prone rail infrastructure together with our partners from the sector and industry,” said Richard Lutz, head of the railway company. “With the strengthening of rail, the climate goals are within reach,” said the railway and transport union EVG.
The money is urgently needed
Interest groups such as the Pro-Rail Alliance particularly advocated that income from the use of road infrastructure can now also be used for rail. Previously, these were only allowed to flow back into the street. The money is urgently needed. Starting next year, the railway and the federal government want to close particularly busy routes for around six months and completely renovate them.
The topic of general renovation will also play a role today when the business figures of Deutsche Bahn are presented for the year 2022. The focus is then also on the economic situation of the group.
The railways reported back in the black in the first half of 2022. But that was mainly due to the good business at the logistics subsidiary DB Schenker, which wants to sell the railway. Problem children, on the other hand, remain the loss-making freight traffic and the growing debt level of the state-owned company.
