The Association of Freight Wagon Keepers in Germany (VPI) says the proposed reductions would further weaken the competitiveness of rail freight at a time when operators are already facing high infrastructure and operating costs.
VPI argues that track access support should remain in place until Germany completes a broader reform of track access charges.
“As long as no track access charge reform has been implemented, the existing support must not be reduced,” said Malte Lawrenz, Chairman of VPI. “Otherwise, rail freight costs will continue to rise at exactly the wrong time.”
The draft federal budget foresees a €65 million reduction in support for track access charges. VPI said the measure conflicts with the German government’s transport and climate policy objectives.
The association also criticised the planned reduction in funding for single-wagonload transport, which links industrial sites to the railway network where full block trains are not economically viable.
“For many industrial companies, single-wagonload transport is the only way to move goods by rail,” Lawrenz said. “Cutting support here would weaken both rail freight and Germany’s industrial base.”
VPI has called on the German government and Bundestag to revise the proposed reductions during the parliamentary budget process.
