Politics · Germany · 15 hrs ago
Germany plans fewer major rail works at once to improve punctuality
Germany’s transport minister wants to change how major rail repairs are planned by concentrating on fewer busy routes at a time.
Steffen Bilger says too many projects ran in parallel and did not deliver the results passengers needed.
After months of work on the Berlin-Hamburg line, only 25% of trains were on time, he said.
The government is investing about €25 billion in rail infrastructure this year, and a funding agreement with DB InfraGo is nearing completion.
Bilger says the agreement will set out how the money is spent in the coming years.
The aim is for passengers to notice improvements quickly, with digital upgrades becoming standard after repairs.
German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger plans to focus major rail renovations on fewer corridors at a time.
He says fewer simultaneous construction projects should help improve train punctuality.
Bilger said the previous approach involved too many projects running in parallel and did not deliver the intended results.
After months of closure, the Berlin-Hamburg route initially recorded punctuality of 25 percent, he said.
The government is finalising an agreement with rail infrastructure company DB InfraGo on how billions of euros will be spent in coming years.
- Who
- German Transport Minister Steffen Bilger and rail infrastructure company DB InfraGo.
- What
- Germany plans to carry out major renovations on fewer rail corridors at the same time.
- When
- Bilger announced the plan on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- At an event in Berlin; the plan concerns Germany’s rail network.
- Why
- Bilger said too many parallel projects had not produced the intended results, and fewer simultaneous works should improve punctuality.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Patrick Schnieder took over the transport ministry after Chancellor Merz’s government was formed.
Steffen Bilger took over as transport minister.
The Berlin-Hamburg route initially recorded punctuality of 25 percent, Bilger said.
Bilger announced a focus on fewer major rail renovation corridors at a time.
- Minister
- Steffen Bilger
- Rail punctuality
- 25 percent initially on the Berlin-Hamburg route after months of closure
- Infrastructure spending
- Around 25 billion euros planned for this year
- Rail infrastructure company
- DB InfraGo
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What people are saying
This can’t be explained to anyone, of course.
With this, we will finally achieve a turnaround.