Route network - Ramelow calls for 100 billion euros for rail modernization
Thuringia's Minister-President Bodo Ramelow has demanded a special fund of 100 billion Euro for the modernization of the railway. A significant amount of money is flowing into this at the moment, but the financing is unreliable, Ramelow told "Spiegel". It's not enough, here and there, to invest. "At least 100 billion Euro should be mobilized over ten years to modernize the core of the railway."
Regarding the question of whether he would demand a special fund like the one for the Bundeswehr, Ramelow said: "That would be my approach, yes. But it should be a solution independent of the federal budget."
At the same time, Ramelow criticized impending cutbacks to the rail network, which "Spiegel" reported on this week. The magazine referred to a letter from Deutsche Bahn to the Federal Network Agency from early February. According to the report, the railway company has already drawn up a list of long-distance connections that are to be reduced or discontinued. For example, the Intercity Line 51 (Gera - Weimar - Erfurt - Gotha - Kassel - Dortmund - Cologne) could be completely discontinued. The background is rising track fees for Deutsche Bahn, which could lead to more expensive tickets and fewer connections.
Deutsche Bahn rejected the report on Wednesday: "There are currently no concrete plans to discontinue the named long-distance connections," said Michael Peterson, responsible for passenger long-distance traffic in the Bahn-Vorstand. The planning for the timetable 2025 will be completed in April. According to the current plan, none of the named service reductions are foreseen. However, the railway is forced to review the scope of the timetable offer nationwide due to impending cost increases through higher track fees.
- Bodo Ramelow, the Minister-President of Thuringia, suggested creating a special 100 billion Euro fund for modernizing the German railroad's route network, which he believes is crucial for long-term investment and improvement.
- Despite the current influx of funds into the railway modernization project, German politician Bodo Ramelow emphasized the need for a more reliable financing source, as the current allocation is insufficient.
- In an interview with "Spiegel," Ramelow criticized the proposed cutbacks to the rail network in Germany, citing a letter from Deutsche Bahn to the Federal Network Agency and the potential discontinuation of key routes like the Intercity Line 51 (Gera - Erfurt - Gotha - Kassel - Dortmund - Cologne).
- Amidst the rising track fees for Deutsche Bahn, the German Armed Forces' headquarters in Erfurt, located in Thuringia's capital, may be impacted, as the financial strain could result in more expensive tickets and a decrease in connections.
- Bodo Ramelow called for an independent solution devoid of the federal budget to address the requirement for a special fund, aimed at ensuring the survival and growth of the extensive German railroad's network, including assets in areas like Thuringia and beyond.
