InnoTrans: Germany missing out on global changes in transport

Berlin. At the start of the InnoTrans in Berlin, the world’s largest rail sector trade fair, the managing director of the German Pro-Rail Alliance has criticised Germany for spending too little on the railways. “The Germany railway sector is suffering from the government’s poor investment policies,” said Dirk Flege, the managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, on Monday in Berlin. For example, in 2009 Germany invested just 45 Euros per person on the rail network. By comparison, per capita spending in other European countries is considerably higher: Switzerland invested 284 Euros per person, followed by Austria with 205 Euros. But other countries are also working hard on strengthening their rail networks: Great Britain spent 126 Euros per capita on its railways, with the Netherlands (105 Euros), Sweden (104 Euros), Spain (84 Euros) and France (80 Euros) also clearly demonstrating that they believe in the future of their railways. Germany’s meagre 45 Euros left it well beaten by Italy, which spends 60 Euros per citizen. “We should at least be able to afford Italian standards,” said Flege, warning that Germany could miss out on global changes taking place in the transport sector.

The Pro-Rail Alliance is also unhappy with the way state funding is spread across the different modes of transport. In comparison with the roads, spending on the railways has been falling behind for several years, said Flege. “For every Euro spent on the roads in 2009, only 59 cents were invested in railway infrastructure,” he added, and pointed out that not only Austria and Switzerland but now also France have reversed these positions. In 2009, China for the time also invested more in the railways than in the roads, said Flege. “The inertia of our politicians is in stark contrast with leading position enjoyed by Germany in the global rail sector.”