Rail transport - State puts pressure on digital rail hub
The Baden-Württemberg state government is increasing pressure in the dispute over the digitalization of the Stuttgart rail hub. In a letter to Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), State Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) demands stronger involvement of the state in clarifying open questions.
The supervisory board of German Railways (DB) dealt with the issue at the end of June, but the company's reservation against the third stage of the digital project remained in place for the time being. Open questions regarding the digitalization projects are now to be clarified in a joint working group with the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMDV), a Bahn spokesperson announced.
Hermann intends to participate in this working group. It is necessary and appropriate for the state to be represented in the announced working group, the letter to Wissing states, which was obtained by the German Press Agency. It is also signed by the chairman of the Region Stuttgart Association, Thomas Bopp. The region is the owner of the Stuttgart S-Bahn.
We have confidence that the digital node will come about, and contracts have been signed for the outfitting of hundreds of trains with digital technology, write Hermann and Bopp. This is also funded by the federal government. "Beyond that, the state is procuring its own replacement train fleet, whose vehicles will also be equipped with the necessary technologies." Therefore, the Federal Government, State of Baden-Württemberg, and Region Stuttgart should represent their common interests in the railway sector in the working group.
Previously, Minister President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) warned Scholz in a letter against the failure of the Digital Rail Node Stuttgart (DKS) project in a letter to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). In the letter, the Green politician accuses the heavily indebted federal railway of pursuing its own plans with the reserved federal budget funds: "In our opinion, the DB is attempting to divert the reserved federal budget funds for the railway network maintenance." And further: "Despite our understanding for the high priority of the railway network maintenance, the important future investment in the 'Digital Rail' should not be sacrificed in the budget negotiations."
The background of the long-running dispute between the Federal Government, the Railways, and the State is a debate about the urgently necessary digitalization of the railway in Stuttgart. With the Digital Rail Node Stuttgart, capacity at the tunnel station is to be increased, and in a further step, the S-Bahn in the Stuttgart area may be made more reliable and punctual. However, the financing is uncertain due to the tight budget situation. The railway board therefore stopped the digital project at first with a gremium veto.
- The state government of Baden-Württemberg, led by Minister Winfried Hermann, is urging the Federal Ministry of Transport for a more active role in the digitalization of the Stuttgart S-Bahn rail hub, as discussed in the S-Bahn's controlling entity, the Region Stuttgart Association.
- German Railways (DB) has expressed reservations about the third stage of the digital project, despite the involvement of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in clarifying open questions.
- Following the Supervisory Board's meeting at the end of June, State Minister Hermann intends to participate in the upcoming joint working group with the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure to address these outstanding issues.
- The collaboration between the Federal Government, the State of Baden-Württemberg, and the Region Stuttgart Association is crucial in the railway sector, especially in the context of digital rail transport, as evidenced by their financial commitments.
- In a letter to Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP), Hermann and Bopp advocated for their common interests, pointing out the significance of digital technologies in the modernization of railroad infrastructure and fleet replacement.
- The dispute between the Federal Government, German Railways, and the State over the digitalization of the Stuttgart rail hub stems from concerns over financing and the intended upgrades to tunnel station capacity and S-Bahn reliability.
- Previously, Minister President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) voiced concern in a letter to Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) about the potential sacrifice of digital rail investments in the budget negotiations, due to the railway's fiscal constraints and the urgent need for network maintenance.
