Governor Nagl from Infra, expresses the challenge of setting up new railway lines.
Following decades of disregard, Deutsche Bahn is finally taking steps to enhance their infrastructure. However, due to financial constraints, significant advancements might be challenging. Philipp Nagl, the 42-year-old Austrian-born head of DB Infrago, has dismissed the notion of extensive new projects, stating that the primary focus should be on preserving the existing network.
In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Nagl highlighted that with 33,000 kilometers of track already under management, taking on additional tracks would only complicate matters further. He stresses the importance of adequately financing the current network, as the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan outlines more projects than can realistically be accomplished.
Among these projects is the Frankfurt railway tunnel, which is slated for construction in the 2030s and operation in the 2040s. While Nagl declined to comment specifically on this project, he did acknowledge the high operational costs associated with new tracks, particularly tunnels. Even rail supporters in neighboring Switzerland are currently debating this issue intensely.
Nagl did confirm that they are pursuing important expansion and new construction projects. However, the primary focus is on smaller and medium-scale measures to rapidly boost capacity. The goal is to complete over 200 such projects by the end of 2027.
With regards to the unstable funding prospects for the railways in the short term, Nagl revealed that negotiations for funds have been annual thus far. Currently, they enjoy a three-year period of financial planning security. "We are hopeful and plan to continue at this funding level in 2028 and 2029," he said, although this remains uncertain.
Despite the financial constraints, Deutsche Bahn is prioritizing investment in maintaining and enhancing their existing infrastructure. Given the high operational costs of new tracks and the need to preserve the current network, significant expansions may prove challenging.
