The association claims that with 858 million euro losses, DB Cargo has given every fifth train to its customers for free. It demands an effective restructuring of DB Cargo or the German federal government's withdrawal from the company.
At the same time, DIE GÜTERBAHNEN representatives demand new and upgraded lines, electrification, small and medium-sized measures, loading facilities, overtaking and sidings, ETCS and overdue replacement investments in the existing network. And the planned promotion of single-wagon transport is to be clearly geared towards multi-traffic, based on the "industry model" model, and combined with the existing system price promotion.
Since 2012, DB Cargo has received support of almost 4 billion euros from other companies within the DB concern. Among them is DB Infrastructure, which also gets finances from DB Cargo’s competitors running on German railway tracks. DB was capable of covering the losses of DB Cargo thanks to achieving operating profit as a group.
DB Cargo claims that large infrastructure works on railways and the unprofitable single wagonload traffic are the main causes of the negative result. The company has recently denied news of massive job cuts and some German media reported that Deutsche Bahn is planning to invest billions to revitalise DB Cargo, although the company denied it.
