Previously pride of Germany, the Deutsche Bahn or DB (the country’s SNCF) is today the shadow of itself. Delays, accidents, under investments in the network … The company is very criticized by customers and the federal state. Therefore, the Government decided to act and announced this Thursday by the voice of the Minister of Transportation the dismissal of its boss, Richard Lutz.
He pointed out the “dramatic” situation of the DB, the lack of user satisfaction in terms of punctuality and profitability. However, at the head of the German railroads since 2017, Richard Lutz, 61, will remain in office until a successor is.
Main reason for this decision: chronic trains delays in the country that poison the life of users. The punctuality rate of long -distance trains has fallen for years in Germany. Last year, it only reached 62.5%, compared to 79% in 2016.
Such important delays that Switzerland has decided to stop high -speed Germans (ICE) at their first stop on the Swiss network to replace them with local trains that come out and arrive on time.
Mortal derailment in July
But the state of the network is also in question, with the highlight, on July 28, the derailment of a regional train in southwest Germany, killing at least three and many injured. If the exact cause of this disaster has not yet been determined, the ruin of infrastructure is indicated. Already, in June 2022, the derailment of a regional train had killed four and 30 injured in the Alpes Bavaros.
The new conservative government has pledged to invest several hundred one billion euros in the coming years in the DB that, such as the SNCF, belongs to the State, in particular to modernize the network. The group can count until the end of the Legislature, in 2029, of 107 billion euros in public aid, including more than 20 billion this year. The large part comes from the Special Infrastructure Fund of 500 billion euros adopted in March for the Government.
But additional 17 billion euros would be necessary by 2029, said Richard Lutz, to lead the digitalization and modernization of existing infrastructure, without delay.
The Deutsche Bahn Association welcomed the announcement of the departure of Richard Lutz. “The situation of the railroads will not change changing the leaders, but only improving rail policy in Germany and sufficiently financing the railroads,” said Karl-Peter Naumann, honorary leader of Pro-Bahn. “All previous transport ministers have failed more or less and have contributed greatly to the current railway situation,” he added.
The SNCF wants to avoid a German scenario
The situation of the German railroad is also presented as the worst SNCF scenario that also seeks to boost network investments.
On average, the French rail network is 29 years old average. “If nothing is done, the SNCF warns, that is, if additional means is not dedicated to the maintenance of rails, ballast and especially the catenaries, these copper wires that age that allow the locomotives to be electricity, 2,000 trains can be affected daily from 2028 due to delays, unexpected work, even specific closures.”
A financing conference allowed to generate clues. It is about finding an additional year of € one billion per year to keep the rail network alive and especially to make decisions now to be able to program the necessary work since 2027.
Source: BFM TV
