Price increases threaten: BUND is planning higher route prices for train travel!

Price increases threaten: BUND is planning higher route prices for train travel!

This day, July 10, 2025, the Bundestag advises on the budget draft of the new federal government. A central topic is the future financing of the rail network in Germany, in particular the grants at the route prices that are collected for the use of the rail network. Martin Burkert, the chairman of the EVG railway and transport union, has clearly positioned itself in this context and demands a significant increase in grants. Without these financial resources, there are considerable price increases in the long -distance transport of Deutsche Bahn.

The route prices that are collected by the DB Infrago are a kind of usage fee for the rail network. Burkert warns of a drastic increase in the coming year: 16 percent in freight traffic and even 19 percent in long -distance transport are in space. Among other things, these increases are the result of increasing equity interest, since the federal government increases the equity of Deutsche Bahn to enable necessary investments in the rail network. However, these measures lead to higher interest burden and thus to an increase in route prices.

The financial challenges

The budget for 2025 stipulates that around 5.9 billion euros are provided for network expansion. However, this should not be enough to cover the increased costs. Burkert emphasizes that an additional 300 million euros for long -distance transport and another 100 million euros are required for rail freight transport to compensate for the additional costs. Without this support, either price increases or a reduction in the offer for travelers and industry.

The Pro Bahn passenger association also expresses concerns and speaks of a "price shock" among passengers if the route prices are actually increased. An example illustrates this: The costs for an ICE trip from Hamburg to Munich are currently around 17,400 euros; Over 10,000 euros of this will be paid to the route price.

necessary reforms and measures

Unity is both in the Deutsche Bahn and the EVG that a reform of the route price system is urgently necessary. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has also announced measures to meet this concern. This reform could enable stabilization of the route prices and thus also ensuring the offer on the rail.

In order to strengthen rail freight transport sustainably, the reduction in route prices was identified as the most important immediate measure as part of the rail freight transport master plan. The federal government has already provided 209 million euros for this. These funds are intended to help shift more freight traffic to the environmentally friendly rail and to promote the innovative strength of rail freight transport.

The now discussed route promotion, which has been in force since July 2018 and was extended in June 2024 to the end of 2028, is an important basis for increasing competitiveness in this area. Nevertheless, long -term financial models must be developed to ensure planning security for everyone involved.