Concerns are mounting over the German rail network’s ability to meet punctuality targets, with Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister for Economy, Claus Ruhe Madsen, expressing considerable doubt regarding their achievability. Speaking on a national broadcast program, Madsen asserted that achieving these targets is “simply not going to happen.
The Minister attributes the ongoing issues to the deteriorating condition of the rail infrastructure. He highlighted instances where track sections, some extending 15 kilometers, are only capable of accommodating a single train in each direction. Addressing potential improvements, such as electrification, Madsen emphasized the lengthy processes involved, estimating a timeframe of approximately ten years due to complex planning and approval procedures. He wryly suggested that battery-powered aircraft might be developed before significant improvements to the rail system are realized.
Madsen adopted a pragmatic outlook, advising acceptance of the situation and encouraging a relaxed attitude among travelers. He humorously suggested rebranding the Deutsche Bahn as a “German museum railway” proposing ticket prices of around €58 for nationwide travel. This perspective was contrasted with his recent experience riding Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train, which experienced a mere seven minutes of delays throughout the entire year.
Born in Denmark and immigrating to Germany in the early 1990s, Madsen has a background as an entrepreneur. Prior to his current role as Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister of Economy, he served as Mayor of Rostock. He recently obtained German citizenship and joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.