Planned IC route cuts: Deutsche Bahn and Ministry of Transport deny
A spokesperson for the Federal Transport Ministry also stated that "we have no specific information about expansions on certain tracks," adding that the Federal Government, as owner of the railway, has an interest in "ensuring smooth rail traffic throughout Germany, and that includes no region being left behind." This was communicated clearly to the railway.
According to "Der Spiegel," several IC tracks, particularly in Eastern Germany, are to be scrapped. The reason being the capital increase at the railway, which forces the infrastructure division to significantly raise track fees, the report alleges in a confidential letter from the DB Corporation to the Federal Network Agency. As a result, it is said that the ICE offering to the Baltic Sea in the off-season must be significantly reduced.
The report sparked heated reactions, particularly from the Greens and the Left. "We will do everything to prevent that from happening," said Greens leader Omid Nouripour to RTL and ntv regarding the planned cuts. "The thin long-distance rail offering in the East must not be further reduced by discontinuing connections, especially to holiday regions," explained Left parliamentarian Sören Pellmann.
Regarding track fees, these refer to a charge for using the railway network, which is levied by the infrastructure division of the railway. The corporation acknowledged that "the currently proposed drastic increase" in these track tolls would pose significant challenges for long-distance traffic. Initially, the DB had hinted at service reductions and higher ticket prices as inevitable consequences. However, in a later statement, only a necessary review of the timetable offer was mentioned.
The spokesperson for the Transport Ministry referred to a regulation that was introduced a few years ago "under pressure from the states." According to this regulation, track prices in local transport are capped, and cost increases must be shifted to long-distance and freight transport. "In the short term," the Ministry is advocating for state support for track prices. However, the system is not sustainable and requires revision.
- The IC routes cancellation, as reported by Der Spiegel, includes those in East Germany, a decision allegedly driven by the capital increase at German Railways (DB).
- The Federal Ministry of Transport, in response to this news, emphasized its commitment to ensuring smooth rail traffic throughout Germany, including no region being left behind.
- Michael Peterson, a spokesperson for the Federal Transport Ministry, referred to a regulation introduced a few years ago that caps track prices in local transport and shifts cost increases to long-distance and freight transport.
- The DB Corporation acknowledged the proposed drastic increase in track tolls would pose significant challenges for long-distance traffic, initially hinting at service reductions and higher ticket prices as inevitable consequences.
- The Greens and the Left have expressed strong opposition to the planned IC track scrapping, with Omid Nouripour and Sören Pellmann asserting their efforts to prevent these cuts and maintain connections, especially to holiday regions.
