Railway investment cuts put Germany's mobility transition at risk, alliance warns

(Clean Energy Wire, 9 Feb 2024) A broad alliance of German climate NGOs, welfare organisations, trade unions and business associations has warned that the cuts to the country’s railway budget puts the mobility transition and climate targets at risk.

“With the adoption of the 2024 budget, it is clear that by 2027 at least 13.5 billion euros will be lacking for the basic refurbishment of the rail network,” the alliance said. “Funds that were planned for the expansion and new construction now have to be used for refurbishment and urgently needed projects cannot be realised as planned.” The organisations criticise that the funds for highway constructions remained untouched. “This wrong-headed prioritisation jeopardises the climate targets,” the alliance said, calling for a transport infrastructure policy approach that considers mobility transition and climate targets a baseline.

A pro-rail initiative also bemoaned slow progress in reactivating old railway lines in rural parts of the country. There is growing interest in reviving previously abandoned rail tracks, but progress remains very slow, according to railway lobby group Allianz pro Schiene. The group said there have been a sharp increase in feasibility studies on railway reactivations, of which more than three-quarters arrive at a positive conclusion, but only very few projects see the light of day.

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Clean Energy Wire, 9 Feb 2024: Railway investment cuts put Germany's mobility transition at risk, alliance warns