Private wagon owners and railway workshops are sounding the alarm over a significant increase in track access charges, warning that this could severely damage the competitiveness of rail freight, the most environmentally friendly mode of transport. The German Association of Private Wagon Owners (Verband privater Waggonbesitzer - VPI) has responded by submitting a position paper to key German Government officials, including Transport Minister Volker Wissing and State Secretary Susanne Henckel, calling for urgent action.
The VPI points out that the state-owned network operator has steadily increased track access charges over the years. A further substantial increase is expected in 2025. From 2025, rail freight operators will have to pay 16 per cent more per kilometre than last year. Although these charges will initially be borne by train path ordering rail companies, the wider rail industry is expected to feel the impact, particularly through reduced fleet utilization and potential threats to wagon keepers and workshops.
VPI calls for immediate political intervention in its position paper. Its demands include increasing the track access subsidy to €350 million in the 2025 federal budget, repealing provisions in the Railway Act that allow DB InfraGo to make high profits, and fundamentally reforming the current track access charging system.
VPI stresses that without swift action, these cost increases could hamper the rail sector's competitiveness with other modes of transport and ultimately have an impact on the sustainability of freight transport in Germany.
