Rail Acceleration Commission in Germany Meets for the First Time

Today, the Rail Acceleration Commission, as agreed in the coalition agreement, has met for the first time at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing opened the first meeting in Berlin. The commission is chaired by the Parliamentary State Secretary and Federal Commissioner for Rail Transport, Michael Theurer.

(Berlin) Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing: “In the coalition agreement, we have set ambitious goals for the rail transport sector. We are implementing this consistently and resolutely. With the establishment of the Acceleration Commission, we are now taking the next important step. It is clear that things cannot remain as they are. If we want things to improve quickly, we must also question the existing processes and explore new paths. We need a fundamental restructuring and transformation of rail transport in Germany.

It must be an attractive, equivalent alternative in the competition of transport modes – also for achieving climate goals. In the Acceleration Commission, we are pooling all efforts to bring rail and rail infrastructure to a level we can all be proud of. For rail to become efficient again, everyone must pitch in.”

Drawing on Extraordinary Experience

Michael Theurer, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport: “For the Rail Acceleration Commission, we are bringing together the key decision-makers from business, science, administration, and politics at one table. This allows us to draw on an extraordinary wealth of experience. Together, we will address very concrete issues that will make rail transport more attractive in the short and medium term. The goal is to develop recommendations for action together with the industry by the end of the year that will help eliminate barriers and bring about quickly implementable improvements.”

The Acceleration Commission consists of high-ranking decision-makers from politics, science, administration, the railway sector, and the rail and construction industries.

A list of members can be found at the following link:

www.bmdv.bund.de/beschleunigungskommission

Expansion of Rail Infrastructure and Capacity Increase

The Acceleration Commission aims to promote the expansion of rail infrastructure and an increase in capacity within the existing network. It will address, among other things, the following areas of action: More efficient financing instruments and sources Digitalization of planning, approval, and construction implementation Increasing public acceptance of rail infrastructure projects Accelerating overall projects from needs assessment to commissioning Eliminating skilled labor shortages Reducing legal hurdles Exceptions in planning approval law Capacity increase through optimization of infrastructure use Capacity-saving construction Digital capacity management Reducing maintenance backlogs Promoting cross-border regional transport projects Control models for infrastructure companies User-side optimization of infrastructure use (e.g., vehicles, speed harmonization) Creating an innovation-friendly climate The resulting recommendations for action should be directed at everyone: politics, administration, all stakeholders from the railway sector, as well as the rail and construction industries. The commission should think as broadly as possible and show new paths and approaches to action.

Central Element of Rail Policy

The Rail Acceleration Commission is a central element in the rail policy of the BMDV. At the same time, the process to create a public welfare-oriented infrastructure division through the merger of DB Netz AG and DB Station & Service AG is in full swing.

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