100 days in office: Peter Ramsauer

Berlin. In his first 100 days as the new federal transport minister, Peter Ramsauer from the CSU has not exactly been quick off the mark, according to the German Pro-Rail Alliance. “When it comes to transport policy, the federal government is still warming up,” said Dirk Flege, managing director of the Pro-Rail Alliance. “Of course, we were very happy about some of Ramsauer’s railway-friendly comments, but his all-important Christmas announcement about massively expanding the rail network has not been backed up with either measures or with funding.”

Flege criticised the fact that, of the transport policy plans contained the government’s coalition agreement, only the working group on longer, heavier vehicles had been really productive. “This is not a good sign. We are completely in the dark about just how Ramsauer will be able to credibly arrange to get a major share of the growth in freight transport shifted onto the railways,” said Flege.

The Pro-Rail Alliance’s managing director would like to see considerably greater commitment in the coming year. “There are some big issues for transport policy makers to address that cannot be solved by standing still.” The biggest challenge for Ramsauer will come when “the fighting starts for a share of the reduced spending on transport infrastructure,” said Flege. He criticised the minister’s proposal for tackling the problem “by ring-fencing spending”. Flege said that a comprehensive approach covering all modes of transport was being neglected. “Ramsauer has moved several steps too far towards the road lobby’s position.”