Rail fare expenses - Critiques federal government's railway strategies, according to Madsen.
Minister of Transport for Schleswig-Holstein, Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU), voiced concerns about potential reductions in local train services due to the federal government's actions. He was reacting to proposals that could potentially raise track fees, a sort of railway toll, by approximately 23.5% from 2026. Madsen spoke to SHZ, stating, "This is expected to result in significant cost savings." He further added, "Such measures won't permit a transition towards sustainable transport. In fact, they question the progress we've made so far."
The federal government is attempting to cut costs in its budget by means of the railway. An additional 4.5 billion euros in equity is to be provided to the railway, which won't count towards the debt limit and will replace direct budget subsidies. However, the railway will need to pay interest on this capital, which they plan to cover through increased track fees.
During ZDF-Morgenmagazin, Madsen stated that Schleswig-Holstein currently has the worst railway infrastructure in all of Germany. He used an analogy, comparing the situation to that of a tenant who would prefer a rent reduction if their apartment had water leaks or a faulty toilet, rather than agreeing to a rent hike. According to Madsen, this translates to an annual loss of 40 million euros for Schleswig-Holstein.
The proposed increase in track fees for rail transport could lead to significant reductions in local train services, as stated by Claus Ruhe Madsen. The increased fees, aimed at covering interest on additional equity provided to the railway, may not support a transition towards sustainable transport.
