The Monopolies Commission, which advises the federal government on competition issues, recommends splitting up Deutsche Bahn. The goal must be more competition so that rail is the winner in the end.
The Monopolies Commission, a body that advises the federal government on competition issues, is calling for Deutsche Bahn to be split up. “The Deutsche Bahn Group has to be restructured,” said Jürgen Kühling, chairman of the monopoly commission, of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
The plans of the traffic light coalition, which envisage the formation of an infrastructure society oriented towards the common good, are “a sensible component of a comprehensive reform package,” adds Kühling. “The planned restructuring is a good step towards unbundling. In the end, the big winner has to be rail.” Politicians must seize this opportunity now. The conversion should not just be a label change.
More competition required
Today, Kühling intends to publish the 9th “Railway Sector Report” prepared by the Monopolies Commission and hand it over to the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Transport. In it, the experts campaign massively for more competition in the rail sector and for comprehensive reforms.
The new network company must be oriented towards the common good: “This point must not be watered down during implementation,” says Kühling. Only then did the travelers benefit.
The Monopolies Commission has long been calling for Deutsche Bahn to be broken up, and the state-owned company to be divided into infrastructure and transport divisions.
“It takes staying power”
The goal is more competition in the railway market and more quality at Deutsche Bahn. Deutsche Bahn recently had to deal with strikes, delays, many construction sites and dissatisfied customers. The railway had been underfinanced for many years and there was a considerable investment backlog, said Kühling. This will now be tackled. “But that takes a lot of staying power,” said Kühling.