Transport policy: Federal government dampens the increase in “rail toll”

The federal government wants to dampen the increase in route prices for the rail network – this “rail toll” also has an impact on ticket prices. The cabinet decided on a corresponding draft law. In essence, it is about a lower so -called equity interest rate so that the route fees for the use of the railways rise less. As a result, this is intended to prevent strong price increases for rail customers.

The route prices are a kind of toll that companies have to pay for the use of the rail to the rail infrastructure subsidiary DB Infrago. This also applies to the long-distance, regional and freight traffic divisions of the federal German railways. The money is to be used, among other things, for the maintenance of the network.

Plans of the federal government

A spokesman for Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) said that by lowering the equity interest rate for the infrago from 5.2 percent to 2.2 percent, the federal government made its contribution to the fact that the expected price increases in rail traffic and rail freight traffic for 2026 can be more than halved and the industry can be relieved effectively from the cost pressure.

In order for the new legal situation to be taken into account in the Federal Network Agency’s approval procedure, this must have come into force until the timetable change in December, the spokesman said. The measure is a first step towards a planned reform of route prices.

The Managing Director of Allianz Pro Schiene, Dirk Flege, said: “The route prices in their current form are not only painful for everyone who uses rail freight transport. They act like a full braking on the transportation of traffic from the street to the rail and climate goals of the Federal Government.” Due to the lower return expectation, the route prices would only increase less.

Bahn boss Richard Lutz had made it clear that he sees urgent need for action in the increased increased route prices. “If this year’s route promotion and the later reform of the route price system are not sufficiently carried out, long-distance transport must check its offer for economic load-bearing capacity and if necessary,” said Lutz from the German Press Agency.

According to the Federal Government’s budget draft in 2025, a route promotion in rail freight transport of 275 million is planned for 2026 of 265 million euros. From the industry’s point of view, this is not enough.

The head of the railway and transport union (EVG), Martin Burkert, had also warned of rising route prices. In the case of household consultations, the MPs would have to mitigate the rail toll through targeted support. Otherwise, the railway customers were at risk of significantly more than 10 percent this year, he told the “Bild” newspaper.

Connection with more equity

Among other things, the prices have increased so much because the federal government has equipped the train with additional billions of equity. The railway must pay interest on this capital, which is financed through the route prices. The more equity, the more interest, the higher the route prices. Capitals to the Deutsche Bahn are no longer provided for in 2026.