The expenses incurred by Deutsche Bahn for controlling weeds in the trackbed have risen sharply in recent years. According to the rail company, its budget for vegetation control in the track area increased significantly between 2020, when it stood at approximately nine million Euros, and 2024, when it reached around 60 million Euros. Deutsche Bahn attributed this cost escalation primarily to the enhanced mechanical cutting implemented since 2023, which is substituting for the use of herbicides.
Reports from “Welt am Sonntag” suggested that the company, under former CEO Richard Lutz, had previously considered plans to reintroduce glyphosate for weed removal along the tracks. These indications suggested that the corporation had prepared for a “test phase” involving glyphosate use in the previous year. However, these prospective plans were halted following Lutz’s departure as CEO last October.
When approached for comment, Deutsche Bahn declined to address these matters, stating, “We generally do not comment on internal concept documents from the past. The fact is: There are no plans for a glyphosate test phase”.