The track access charges for rail operators in Germany will not be lowered earlier than next year. That is the decision of the new German minister of Transport, Andreas Scheuer (CSU).

According to Scheuer, the delay has to do with the long formation of the new cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). His predecessor and party colleague Alexander Dobrindt had already promised the rail sector a reduction in the track access charges in 2018. 350 million euro per year was allocated for this.

Rail Freight Masterplan

Germany presented last year the Rail Freight Masterplan, with which the country wants to improve its competitive position in the European market. One of the proposals in the master plan is to lower the track access charges.