Bundesverkehrsminister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) says the Bundeswehr’s involvement in Deutsche Bahn’s winter maintenance is unnecessary. “Only a major snow disaster would justify such an operation” he told the “Tagesspiegel”. “We must be able to cope with normal winter conditions ourselves, using our own resources and, whenever possible, staying on the tracks”.
Railway industry spokespeople pointed out that during the GDR era, soldiers of the National People’s Army routinely helped keep rails clear of ice and snow in severe winters. Schnieder, however, urged Deutsche Bahn to improve its winter services. “The railway can refine processes, strengthen preparation and upgrade infrastructure” he said. “Yet there will always be situations today that cannot be handled with the technology we have now as easily as we could with heavy diesel locomotives in the past”.
He added that even heated switches eventually reach a limit. “Manual clearing becomes necessary, and when snow gusts blow, workers simply can’t keep up with the snow removal”.
