Separation of network and operation
CDU and CSU want to smash Bahn
4/16/2023 5:13 am
Deutsche Bahn wants to put the traffic lights back on track. A more radical reform proposal comes from the opposition: the CDU and CSU propose splitting up the state-owned company. Only local traffic, long-distance traffic and freight traffic should remain from the holding company.
According to a newspaper report, in order to end the misery at Deutsche Bahn, the Union is demanding that the state-owned company be dismantled. As can be seen from a reform paper by the parliamentary group, which is available in the “Augsburger Allgemeine” newspaper, the network, train stations and energy sectors are to be separated from the network and bundled in a federal infrastructure company. “Infrastructure and transport areas are separated from each other,” says the concept. “The DB holding will be dissolved and the previous DB structure with 740 holdings and subsidiaries will be unbundled.”
The Union uses the Federal Motorway Company as a model for the Infrastructure GmbH. The federal government should then be able to decide independently of the railway company which routes will be renovated, upgraded or newly built. According to the reform proposal, only the rolling departments of local transport, long-distance transport and freight transport remained with the railways, which are also to be streamlined. The concept was largely developed by CSU traffic expert Ulrich Lange.
With the current structure, according to Lange, the railways can neither meet the ongoing business nor the ambitious growth targets in long-distance and freight traffic. “The train driver sees what he experiences when travelling, for example unpunctual, failed or overcrowded trains, poor reception on the Internet and mobile phones. Almost everyone can sing a song about that,” said the deputy parliamentary group leader of the newspaper. The breakup of the railway will mean that private competitors would have better chances of snatching market shares from the top dog. “The separation of network and operation will also have a positive effect on competition, since providers other than Deutsche Bahn can use the rail network more than before.”
“Schenker must remain in federal hands”
With its advance, the Union is putting pressure on the traffic light coalition, which is also working on a rail reform. However, it will be shorter, only the network and train stations divisions are to be merged. Deutsche Bahn would remain the integrated group that determines the network and operations.
Lange asked the traffic light parties to follow his suggestion. “After all, this is about setting the course for the next few decades,” said the CSU politician. In contrast to the government alliance, the CDU and CSU advocate keeping the freight forwarding subsidiary Schenker with the railways in any case. Schenker is the earnings pearl of the railway and last year contributed the lion’s share of the operating profit, while long-distance and local transport as well as the freight division made losses. “As an internationally active logistics service provider, DB Schenker must remain in the hands of the federal government. This is of strategic importance, especially in view of competitors such as China,” says the reform paper.