A broad alliance of German companies, trade unions and civil society organizations has called on the German federal government to ensure reliable long-term financing for the country's railway infrastructure, warning that planned budget cuts could further exacerbate disruptions in industrial supply chains.
According to the alliance, the latest draft federal budget cuts funding for the reconstruction and expansion of Germany's railway network by 1.3 billion euros. According to reports, more than 90 railway projects are at risk of being curtailed, and about 30 projects remain without funding this year, despite the availability of a special infrastructure fund. The Alliance stated that insufficient investment in railway infrastructure would have a particularly negative impact on sectors dependent on reliable freight transport, including steel production, basic materials, chemicals and logistics.
WV Stahl warns of increased production издержек
General Director of the German Steel Industry Federation (WV Stahl) Kerstin Maria Rippel said that reducing investment in railway infrastructure would increase production costs and further weaken Germany's industrial base.
She stressed that steel producers, their suppliers and steel-consuming enterprises need a reliable railway network and called on the government to address what she called the chronic underfunding of railways. railway infrastructure.
The Alliance calls for lower fees for access to the railway путям
The Alliance also highlighted the increase in railway access fees as an additional burden. According to the statement, after the decision of the European Court of Justice, which declared the restriction of fees for access to railway tracks unacceptable, local railway passenger transport faces additional annual costs of about 400 million euros. The organizations are calling for a reform that would allow for a permanent reduction in fees for access to railway tracks, including for rail transportation.
In addition, the alliance called for reliable annual financing of 350 million euros for freight transport in one wagon, while emphasizing the need to increase the capacity of rail transport to support the transition to rail freight transportation.
The organizations also argued that strengthening the railway infrastructure is important for the sustainability of the German economy as a whole. transport network. They pointed to the low water level in the Rhine as an example of why sufficient reserve railway capacity is needed to transport additional goods when other transport routes are facing disruptions.
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