- Significant financial blockage amounting to 19 billion euros encountering challenges at rail stations within Bavaria.
In Bavaria, there's a substantial railways investment debt that amounts to over 19 billion euros, as stated in a reply from the Federal Ministry of Transport to a request by Left Party MP Nicole Gohlke. Initially reported by Bayerischer Rundfunk, this information was obtained by the German Press Agency in Munich.
The debt for railway bridges in the Free State alone is around 7.4 billion euros, with 3.6 billion euros required for tracks. The railway would need to invest 2.6 billion euros in Bavaria's signal boxes, 700 million euros in switches, and 600 million euros in platforms, underpasses, and related infrastructure.
To put things into perspective, approximately 2 billion euros were put into railway infrastructure in Bavaria last year. The investment for the previous year was about 1.7 billion, and it was around 1.8 billion each in 2021 and 2022. Last year, an investment of 2.1 billion euros was made.
Gohlke deemed the investment debt of over 19 billion euros as unacceptable, particularly considering climate change. She stated that the expansion of railway infrastructure is questionable and urged for immediate action and more funds for a genuine transport transformation.
Nicole, hearing about the substantial railways investment debt in Bavaria, expressed her concern, saying, "Nicole, please." She believes the 19 billion euro debt, especially in light of climate change, is unacceptable and necessitates immediate action and additional funds for a sustainable transport transformation.
