- Ramelow labels federal railway plans as insincere or dishonest.
Thuringia's top politician, Bodo Ramelow (from the Left Party), had some strong words for the federal government's strategy to enhance Deutsche Bahn's equity capital. Instead, he doubled down on his push for the company's dismantlement. "This is the peak of hypocrisy," Ramelow told Spiegel, pointing to the government's budget arrangement aimed at ensured investments in rail infrastructure. "I never thought a supposedly public-interest company like Deutsche Bahn could have an effect like a hedge fund," he added, referencing the fresh Bahn subsidiary InfraGo, tasked with infrastructure and supposed to consider public interest factors in its investments. Ramelow branded Deutsche Bahn as an "obscure conglomerate now being propped up with taxpayer money."
"Infrastructure should be handled by a non-profit organization"
Ramelow stayed firm on his campaign for the Bahn's disintegration. "We need to separate network and operations," he stressed. "Infrastructure should be controlled and improved by a non-profit organization. DB AG and all its subsidiaries should be transformed into a public-law entity, and the Railway Regulatory Act should be revised."
The federal government introduced a new compromise on a 2025 draft budget to cushion budget deficits of several billion euros. This is primarily achieved by reallocating funds at state-owned Deutsche Bahn, which is set to receive an extra 4.5 billion euros in equity capital. This will not impact the debt brake and is intended to replace direct federal subsidies.
Previously, a 5.9 billion euro boost in equity capital had been envisioned. This was meant to enable the Bahn to invest in repairs for the deteriorated rail network.
"Ramelow criticized the federal government for using Deutsche Bahn as if it were a hedge fund, suggesting a need for infrastructure management by a non-profit organization."
"Given his stance, Ramelow advocated for transforming DB AG and its subsidiaries into a public-law entity, with the Railway Regulatory Act being revised to separate network and operations."
