Federal Network Agency approves higher rail track charges for passenger transport

Effects on local and long-distance transport

This emerges from new so-called track access charges approved by the Federal Network Agency on Wednesday. Compared with the operators' application, it reduced the fees for local transport and increased them for long-distance and freight transport.

Around 400 million euros more in rail track charges will be imposed on rail local passenger transport this year. In return, long-distance passenger transport and freight transport will be relieved to the same extent. For regional transport, however, costs had previously been capped — at the expense of freight and long-distance transport.

Reactions from the industry

Deutsche Bahn's infrastructure division, DB InfraGo, its subsidiary DB Regionetz Infrastruktur, and other parties had challenged the track pricing system for the year 2025 in court. Now, noticeable consequences for transport companies and passengers are looming.

Regional transport has already been suffering for years from sharply rising energy, fuel, and personnel costs. The Deutschlandticket subscription has also become significantly more expensive. Ticket prices have already risen considerably in many places.

If the federal and state governments cannot find a way to cushion the additional costs for transport companies, they are likely to respond not only by reducing services but also with further increases in ticket prices.

Outlook on a reform

The industry association Die Güterbahnen called it incomprehensible "dass das Bundesverkehrsministerium bis heute keinen belastbaren Reformvorschlag für eine verlässliche und wettbewerbsfähige Schienenmaut vorgelegt hat". The Federal Network Agency's decision now corrects "einen der gravierendsten Fehler" in the track pricing system.

Die Güterbahnen added that this is "die notwendige Medizin, ist aber keine Heilung". The federal government is generally working on a reform of the track pricing system.