Germany is facing uncertainty over where to find the 100 billion euros needed for a large-scale reconstruction of its own Deutsche Bahn rail network, the Tagesschau television channel reported on August 23.
According to the report, infrastructure problems such as frequent train cancellations, delays and worn rails are the result of a lack of long-term funding. As Matthias Stoffregen, managing director of the Mofair eV association, points out, the problems date back to the 1990s, when the railway network was supposed to be financed by fares. However, this model was not justified.
The reconstruction of 4,000 kilometres of track, which is only 10% of the entire network, will require significant funding. At the same time, a third of the network is already in need of repair and other sections will reach the limit of wear and tear in the coming years. Nevertheless, the financing problems will remain unresolved from 2029 onwards, as Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing pointed out.
Since 2016, experts have been proposing the creation of an infrastructure fund for the long-term financing of railways and roads. However, the lack of a unified approach and reliance on short-term budgetary decisions could leave the Deutsche Bahn network in ruins and fragmented unless steps are taken to create a stable financing system.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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