The Federal Network Agency reports that revenue from rail infrastructure is covering costs less frequently.
The revenue-cost gap in the rail passenger transport industry is growing wider every year. According to a recent five-year report by the Federal Network Agency, state rail passenger transport firms have had negative cost coverage almost all the time from 2018 to 2022. And things are going to get worse starting from 2023.
The cause behind this is the high inflation and rising prices, said the Bonn authority. The statutory annual increase rate of 1.8% for passenger train fares can't match up to this increase. So, we can expect a further negative cost coverage in the future.
The two infrastructure companies of Deutsche Bahn (DB Netz and DB Station&Service), previously merged into DB InfraGo during the railway reform, were scrutinized in the report.
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The five-year report reveals that state rail passenger transport firms, including DB Netz and DB Station&Service, have consistently recorded negative cost coverage due to insufficient revenue covering rail infrastructure costs since 2018. The Federal Network Agency attributes this trend to the high inflation and rising prices, which outpace the statutory annual increase rate of 1.8% for passenger train fares.
