Deutsche Bahn plans to spend more than twelve billion euros on new trains in the coming years. This was "a record sum in the history of DB," said Berthold Huber, head of passenger transport. In long-distance transport alone, the group plans to invest a total of 8.5 billion euros in new trains by 2026.
ICE 4 inventory in particular is to be expanded
The Group also plans to make major investments in modernizing its regional transport fleet. According to DB, around 2.7 billion euros for new design and the purchase of new vehicles are to flow into the fleets of Germany's five largest S-Bahn trains. In addition, there will be around one billion euros in investments in the DB Regio fleets.
The largest item is the new ICE 4 trains, whose fleet is expected to grow from 39 to 137. There are also double-decker intercity trains, Eurocity trains, regional trains and S-Bahn trains.
The new trains are expected to significantly increase the number of passengers. The railway wants to have long-distance trains running between the big cities every 30 minutes. "In the end, this means that we want to expand long-distance transport into a metropolitan suburban train," said Huber. However, it will take years before this goal is achieved, said Huber.
Every euro for more rails and modern trains is well invested, Huber emphasized. Attractive connections between the metropolises as well as high-performance mobility in German cities and in the country are "supporting pillars of the traffic turnaround".
- Read more about the plans of the railway here: new routes, more trains, old prices
Left boss Kipping demands collective Bahn-Card 50
Left-wing party leader Katja Kipping, meanwhile, called for a free Bahncard 50 for all citizens as a climate protection measure. Instead of subsidizing electric cars, this Bahncard should be available to everyone free of charge, she told the "Rheinische Post" from Düsseldorf. Kipping noted that electric cars could only be afforded by people who had more than 30,000 euros for a car.
The Bahncard 50 of the Deutsche Bahn currently costs 255 euros per year in second class. With the card, travelers receive a 50 percent discount on the so-called flex prices and a 25 percent discount on the super-saver and saver prices for journeys within Germany.
Kipping called for further improvements to the railways in order to increase their contribution to climate protection. For example, there should be more space for bicycles in the wagons and separate compartments with workplaces for commuters who work during the train journey.
