Overview

• Deutsche Bahn has requested €290 billion over the next decade to address decades of underinvestment and modernize its rail infrastructure.
• Despite recent investments halting further decay, punctuality remains low at 62–65%, with years of disruptions expected due to ongoing construction projects.
• The Wendlingen–Ulm rail line, a €4 billion project, has seen only one freight train in over two years due to steep gradients unsuitable for regular freight traffic.
• Experts and unions argue that fundamental governance reforms, including separating DB InfraGO from Deutsche Bahn AG, are necessary to fix inefficiencies and prevent profit shifting.
• The government plans to establish a 12-year rail infrastructure fund to ensure stable financing, but stakeholders warn that money alone cannot resolve the crisis without structural changes.