infrastructure
Report: Union faction proposes splitting up Deutsche Bahn
The parliamentary group’s traffic expert, Ulrich Lange, is certain that the break-up of the railway will mean that private competitors would have better chances, which in turn would stimulate competition.
© Christoph Schmidt/dpa
The Union faction in the Bundestag advocates separating the infrastructure and transport areas of Deutsche Bahn. The government should be able to make decisions about the route network independently of the railway company.
In view of the problems at Deutsche Bahn, the Union faction in the Bundestag proposes a split of the group. The areas of network, train stations and the energy sector should be separated from the group and bundled in a federal infrastructure GmbH, reported the “Augsburger Allgemeine” (Monday edition). “Infrastructure and transport are separated from each other,” she quoted from a parliamentary group concept paper.
Deutsche Bahn: Breaking up would have a positive effect on competition
The federal government should be able to decide independently of the railway company which routes are to be renovated, upgraded or newly built. According to the Union’s proposal, the local, long-distance and freight transport departments will remain with the railways and will also be streamlined. “DB’s holding company will be dissolved and the previous DB structure with 740 holdings and subsidiaries will be unbundled,” the newspaper continued.
The parliamentary group’s traffic expert, Ulrich Lange (CSU), told the “Augsburger Allgemeine” that with the current structure, the railway could neither meet the current business nor the ambitious growth targets in long-distance and freight traffic. “The train driver sees what he experiences when travelling, for example unpunctual, canceled or overcrowded trains, poor internet and cell phone reception. Almost everyone can sing a song about that.”
The dismantling of the railway will mean that private competitors would have better chances of snatching market shares from the top dog, explained Lange. “The separation of network and operation will have a positive effect on competition, since providers other than Deutsche Bahn can use the rail network more than before.”
“Central course setting for the coming decades”
Lange asked the traffic light coalition to follow his proposal. “After all, this is about setting the course for the next few decades,” he told the newspaper. In contrast to the government, the CDU and CSU advocate keeping the freight forwarding subsidiary Schenker with the railways in any case.
Schenker is the earnings pearl of the railway and last year contributed the lion’s share of the operating profit, while long-distance and local transport as well as the freight division made losses. “As an internationally active logistics service provider, DB Schenker must remain in federal hands. This is of strategic importance, especially in view of competitors such as China,” the newspaper quoted from the parliamentary group paper.
Climate-friendly travel
Excursion tips by train from Cologne, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin – you can reach these great destinations in (less than) 5 hours
In a special report for the Bundestag, the Federal Court of Auditors also called for infrastructure and operations to be separated at Deutsche Bahn. The owner federal government must “restructure the group effectively, comprehensively and quickly”, he needs control over the rail network.