Regionalbahnen: Verkehrsminister: Bund muss mehr für Regionalverkehr zahlen

Regional ministers are urging the federal government to allocate more funding for regional rail transportation. Christian Bernreiter, the Bavarian regional transport minister, warned that "we need eight percent increases for next year - there's no money for that." He highlighted that some countries, like Schleswig-Holstein, have already canceled connections, and Bavaria could face difficulties after 2028.

The conflict stems from a European Court of Justice ruling that repealed the so-called "track price brake" in March. This exemption protected rail passenger transport companies from rapidly increasing track prices, which vary for goods, freight, and regional transport. The track prices apply to the three modes of transport and are used to fund operations, maintenance, and investments in the rail network. Bernreiter emphasized that these changes amount to "several hundred million euros."

"Higher track prices mean more costs for the transport companies and the countries that order regional transport," he said. The federal government should cover these additional costs to prevent passengers from facing significant cuts in local transport. Some regional transport associations in various states are reducing their services, as seen in Saxony, due to the additional million-dollar expenses for using rail tracks.

Multiple rail companies have jointly filed a lawsuit with the Federal Association of Rail Passenger Transport against the so-called rail toll for passenger transport.

The regional ministers' demands are based on a memorandum of understanding between the black-red federal government, which plans to reform the track price system. The objective is to strengthen public local transport by establishing a new legal base for financing the regional rail transport system. However, the federal government does not foresee any extra funding.

Bernreiter complained that "unfortunately, Berlin is currently silent. We are calling for a meeting with the Federal Finance Minister, but this request has been rejected so far."