According to the Railway and Transport Union (EVG), rail customers must prepare for significant price increases. Due to the sharp rise in track access charges, "historic price increases of well over ten percent are looming this year," EVG Chairman Martin Burkert told the "Bild" newspaper on Wednesday. DB acknowledged the problem of rising track access charges, but stated that "there have been no decisions regarding price adjustments" as a result.
The infrastructure division of Deutsche Bahn is increasing the so-called rail toll by 18 percent for long-distance traffic and 16 percent for freight traffic, says EVG boss Burkert. The higher costs could only be offset by higher ticket prices, he said. “Further price increases are planned for the rail toll,” confirmed a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson. This will primarily affect long-distance and freight traffic.
The rail toll is a fee for using the rail network that all transport companies must pay. However, prices for regional transport are capped, which is why long-distance and freight transport in particular have suffered price increases in recent years. The relevant railway subsidiaries have therefore long been calling for a reform of the track access pricing system by politicians.
The coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD states: "We are reforming the track pricing system." Burkert also called on the Bundestag to stop "the price hammer." During budget discussions, members of parliament must "mitigate the rail toll through targeted subsidies."
Green Party parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge accused the governing parties of inaction. "Thanks to the billion-euro special fund, this government has more money at its disposal than any other government before it." She said it could prevent the price increases.
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