The costs incurred by Deutsche Bahn for tackling weeds in the track ballast have risen significantly in recent years. According to information provided to the “Welt am Sonntag” the company substantially increased its budget for vegetation control in the tracks, rising from approximately nine million euros in 2020 to around 60 million euros in 2024. Deutsche Bahn stated that the reason for this spending increase is the company’s commitment, starting in 2023, to forgo the controversial herbicide glyphosate. Furthermore, the company cited the increased reliance on mechanical mowing, which began in 2023 as a substitute for chemical weed control, as a primary cause for the rising costs.
The “Welt am Sonntag” reported that during the tenure of former CEO Richard Lutz, Deutsche Bahn reportedly considered plans to reintroduce glyphosate for weed eradication along the railway tracks. Consequently, the group was said to have prepared for a “test phase” involving glyphosate use in the past year. However, following Lutz’s departure as CEO last October, these plans were reportedly shelved.
When asked about these matters, Deutsche Bahn declined to comment. The company stated that it generally does not comment on internal concept documents from the past, emphasizing, “The fact is: There are no plans for a glyphosate test phase”.
