Concerns are mounting over potential cost-cutting measures accompanying the impending announcement of German rail reform, according to the Transportation and Railway Union (EVG). Union officials are warning against equating reform with austerity, voicing anxieties that drastic cuts at Deutsche Bahn could negatively impact passenger experience and employee security.
Martin Burkert, EVG chairman and deputy chairman of Deutsche Bahn’s supervisory board, urged Federal Minister for Transport Patrick Schnieder to prioritize passenger needs and accelerate the rail network’s modernization efforts. He emphasized the importance of enhancing service, quality and safety for riders.
A recent resolution from the EVG federal executive committee outlined specific demands, including increased staff presence for passenger interaction on trains and at stations, improved cleanliness, enhanced station services, a greater number of travel centers and ticket machines and better waiting areas. The union also stressed the critical need for job security and prospect development for employees.
Furthermore, the EVG has called for the consolidation of DB Sicherheit under the DB Infrago umbrella structure to ensure a reliable level of protection for passengers, stations and rail infrastructure. Union representatives acknowledge ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the rail network, but suggest that the challenges could persist for another decade, underlining the urgency of focusing on passenger needs and avoiding further cost reductions that could erode trust and quality.
