German rail industry representatives have expressed reservations regarding the ambitious plans outlined by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) for reforming Deutsche Bahn.
Speaking in Berlin on Monday, Dirk Flege, Managing Director of Allianz pro Schiene, indicated that while the minister’s proposals reference 2027 as a pivotal year for rail transport – when key reforms such as track pricing adjustments and infrastructure planning are slated to be fully implemented – a more robust and comprehensive strategy is needed beforehand. He described the current framework as a foundational element but lacking sufficient detail.
Flege articulated a concern that the government’s own objectives are not sufficiently assertive, noting a disconnect between the stringent demands placed on Deutsche Bahn and the comparatively less defined targets for the government itself. He emphasized the importance of completing the rail strategy this year, allowing rail associations to consider it a definitive plan, a process requiring significant input from a taskforce and further consultations. He cautioned that this process should not extend beyond the beginning of 2027.
Regarding the minister’s stated goal of achieving 70 percent punctuality in long-distance rail services by 2029, Flege characterized the target as initially appearing modest. However, he acknowledged that the current level of extensive infrastructure projects, a consequence of decades of deferred maintenance, likely renders the target realistically achievable. He underscored the necessity of ongoing infrastructural development, recognizing the inherent challenge this presents in maintaining high punctuality levels across the national network.