This week, an important European rail freight company was saved from possible sanctions by the European Commission through an uncompromising reorganisation plan. SNCF Fret, the French subsidiary of SNCF was under fire because it had received financial support from its mother company, this is considered state aid. The same fate hangs over DB Cargo, the German subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn. Are we at the fortnight of a German chapter of the state-owned company debacle?