Among other things, the railway and transport union (EVG) is demanding significantly more financial resources from the Federal Ministry of Transport to implement the Germany cycle.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) brakes from the point of view of the industry and associations at the Germany cycle in rail transport.
“There is a standstill in the implementation of the central future project Deutschlandtakt,” said Hans Leister, board member of the Allianz pro Schiene interest group. The infrastructure measures planned for the 2030 target timetable are “all on hold”. “Not a single project has been specified by the ministry in such a way that implementation can begin.”
Deutschlandtakt should make rail traffic more attractive
In the future, long-distance trains between all metropolitan regions are to run every half hour with the Deutschlandtakt. In addition, long-distance and regional transport should be better coordinated, so that rail transport will also become more attractive in the area. The project plays an important role in the federal government’s goal of doubling rail traffic by 2030.
But from the point of view of the railway and transport union (EVG), significantly more funds are needed for the expansion of the infrastructure. “The current federal budget for 2022 is a step backwards in terms of transport policy,” said EVG Deputy Chairman Martin Burkert. “This will not achieve the federal government’s declared goal of shifting more traffic to the rails.” Projects like the Deutschlandtakt are in acute danger.
Greens: Rail investments particularly important
The Ministry of Transport (BMDV) initially did not comment on the criticism. The Greens emphasized that rail investments were “top priority” for Parliament, as MP Paula Piechotta said. “The traffic light housekeepers of the SPD, Greens and FDP have now made it clear once again by resolution that the BMDV has to put considerably more into the rail than into the road in the 2023 budget.” Piechotta is a member of the budget committee, where he is responsible for the transport budget.
