Overview

• Transport Minister Volker Wissing opposes replacing Deutsche Bahn's CEO, arguing it will not fix the rail network's infrastructure issues.
• Germany's rail network suffers from crumbling tracks, outdated signal systems, and a €90 billion maintenance backlog.
• The federal government and Deutsche Bahn are debating whether leadership reforms or securing €148 billion in funding should take priority.
• Only 62.5% of Deutsche Bahn's long-distance trains were punctual last year, reflecting the urgent need for modernization.
• Wissing attributes the crisis to decades of political underfunding rather than management failures, urging fair accountability from policymakers.