Allianz Pro Schiene: Federal Government Invests More Than 220 Euros Per Capita in the Rail Network in 2025 – Industry Calls for Multi-Year Infrastructure Plan

At the same time, the association points out that per capita investments stood at just 56 euros ten years ago. The increase, it says, is a sign that the political importance of the rail network has now been recognized. Simultaneously, Managing Director Dirk Flege criticizes the fact that the funds have to be negotiated anew each year in the federal budget.

Investments Up, Condition Barely Changed

According to figures from DB InfraGo, the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary responsible for rail infrastructure, around 26,000 construction sites in the network were completed in 2025. However, the network's condition rating remained unchanged at 3.0, according to the latest DB InfraGo report. Allianz Pro Schiene attributes this to decades of underinvestment: despite billions in funding, too little flows into the network because a large portion must be made up.

Flege sharply criticized the previous practice. "So, wie wir in den vergangenen Jahren und Jahrzehnten Bahnpolitik gemacht haben, sind wir dabei, Steuergeld zu verbrennen," he said. Specifically, he pointed out that planning teams are recalled when funding is not fully financed. "Wenn sie zum Beispiel Planungsteams abberufen, weil die Planung nicht durchfinanziert ist, verbrennen sie Steuergeld. Wenn die Bagger auf der Baustelle sind, und die weitere Baufinanzierung stockt, was immer wieder passiert, dann ist es das gleiche Problem."

Demand for a Multi-Year Infrastructure Plan

Allianz Pro Schiene is therefore calling for a so-called infrastructure plan – a multi-year, financially backed infrastructure plan covering the entire planning period. The introduction of such a plan is already enshrined as a goal in the coalition agreement of the black-red federal government. As Flege announced, a draft of the infrastructure plan is to be presented in October to a body comprising representatives of the rail industry.

The association cites Switzerland as a model, noting that it has provided planning security for the construction industry for many years through multi-year investment plans. Austria also maintains a six-year framework plan that is updated annually and covers both maintenance and expansion. "Investitionen ins Schiernnetz dürfen nicht Jahr für Jahr davon abhängig gemacht werden, wie viel im Bundeshaushalt übrig bleibt. Der Bund muss endlich eine verlässliche Finanzierung über mehrere Jahre aufbauen, wie es etwa in der Schweiz seit vielen Jahren der Fall ist," said Flege.

Corridor Renovations Under Pressure

Additional pressure is being created by the federal government's medium-term financial planning: according to current plans, a cut of 1.3 billion euros in rail investments is envisaged for 2027, as Allianz Pro Schiene reports. At the same time, Deutsche Bahn's corridor renovations are underway, of which around 40 are to be completed by the mid-2030s. Three of these renovations recently came in for criticism because they were not completed on schedule or subsequently led to restrictions.

Flege called on Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Ministry of Transport to involve industry and construction associations in the announced review of the corridor renovation concept. In the upcoming renovation sections, more capacity must also be created than through a mere replacement of old parts with new ones. "Es muss mehr Kapazität dabei rauskommen, als wenn man einfach nur alte Teile durch neue ersetzt," said Flege with a view to the acceptance of months-long full closures.

Switzerland and Austria as Models

The debate over rail financing thus comes at a stage where the network, despite rising funding, continues to be considered in need of renovation. Allianz Pro Schiene sees the solution in a departure from annual budget logic. A reliable multi-year framework, the association's message reads, is the prerequisite for ensuring that the billions from the federal budget actually reach the network and are not lost again through planning cancellations and construction standstills.

The level of rail investments is, as the association emphasizes, discussed anew each year during federal budget negotiations. With the announced infrastructure plan draft in October and the ongoing review of the corridor renovations, two political key decisions are pending in the coming months that are likely to determine the future reliability of rail financing.