Madsen concerned about funds for the renovation of railroad lines
Following the budget ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court, Schleswig-Holstein's Transport Minister Claus Ruhe Madsen has called for compensation for lost funding for the repair of railroad lines. "The renovation of the rail network must not be put on the back burner any longer," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency on Thursday. "The Deutschlandticket can only drive forward the turnaround in rail transport if we have a functioning rail network."
The rail network in Schleswig-Holstein is known to be particularly dilapidated, said Madsen. "Therefore, we cannot continue to wait for money from the federal government, our patience and that of the passengers is finite." According to the Ministry of Transport, the Federal Constitutional Court's decision also affects 12.5 billion euros that were supposed to go to the railroads by 2027.
On Wednesday, the Federal Constitutional Court declared a reallocation of 60 billion euros in the 2021 federal budget unconstitutional and null and void. The federal government is therefore not allowed to use money intended to combat the coronavirus crisis for climate protection. This could have a major impact on the so-called Climate and Transformation Fund, from which the federal government wanted to pay for numerous funding programs - including the replacement of old oil and gas heating systems.
Madsen expressed concerns about finding adequate funds for the traffic-improving railroad lines renovation, given the financial implications of the Federal Constitutional Court's decision. Moreover, the frequent traffic delays due to household-affecting railway maintenance could strain family finances, highlighting the broader importance of addressing the rail network's needs.
Source: www.dpa.com
