The chairman of the German Parliament’s Transport Committee, Tarek Al-Wazir, has strongly advocated for a fundamental shift in approach regarding planned reforms at Deutsche Bahn, the national railway company. Speaking to RTL and n-tv broadcasters on Monday, Al-Wazir described the current state of the railway as symptomatic of systemic failures within the country.
He emphasized that simply appointing new leadership will be insufficient; a strategic realignment is crucial. A primary concern highlighted by Al-Wazir was the level of federal funding allocated to Deutsche Bahn. He argued that decades of underinvestment have led to a situation where the infrastructure is failing, a responsibility he places squarely on the shoulders of the government.
Regarding future leadership at Deutsche Bahn, Al-Wazir stressed that effectiveness is contingent on robust support from the government. He criticized the current administration for not dedicating sufficient additional resources to the transport sector, despite the existence of a special fund. The inability to proceed with key infrastructure projects, such as the Mannheim-Frankfurt railway line and the Brenner North bypass, due to funding constraints, was cited as a significant point of concern.
Al-Wazir warned that without a concerted, bipartisan effort to address these issues within the next decade, significant and potentially destabilizing consequences could arise.
