For more rail traffic, Germany has increased its investments in rail to a record level. In 2020, around 88 euros per inhabitant flowed into the network, 16 percent more than in the previous year, as a comparison by the “Pro Schiene Alliance” showed. That was almost 80 percent more than the last low in 2014. The association criticized, however, that the federal government continues to put more money in the streets. For more climate protection, the weights would have to shift more, demanded association boss Dirk Flege: “We have to build new rail lines, we need more money for that.” In addition, the construction costs have risen significantly.
The railway in Germany has been fighting against a billions in renovation backlog for years. Many bridges and signal boxes are showing their age, which can result in delays and train cancellations. In a European comparison, the federal government is investing more money per capita in the railways than Spain and France, for example, which, according to the study, invest 40 euros and 49 euros per inhabitant, respectively. Italy, Great Britain and the Netherlands each spend around 50 percent more than Germany. Sparsely populated Scandinavian countries and the Alpine republics with many bridges and tunnels are significantly higher.