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Locomotive with diesel and electric drive: Horrendous additional costs for electricity
Photo: Federico Gambarini / dpa
At Deutsche Bahn there are - not only in a figurative sense - some construction sites.
Now another problem arises.
Deutsche Bahn boss Richard Lutz expects billions in additional energy costs in the coming year.
"For this year, thank God, we were able to secure ourselves well," Lutz told the "Handelsblatt".
»Next year, however, the price increases on the energy market will hit with full force.
At the current price level, DB will have to pay over two billion euros more for electricity in 2023 alone.« The manager left open how he wanted to take countermeasures.
When asked about possible price increases, he said: »I don't want to speculate about that now.
We traditionally provide information about future ticket prices at the end of September.« However, the extreme increases in energy prices made rail less competitive than road.
"Because while the price of diesel has risen 'only' by 70 to 80 percent in the last twelve months, electricity prices have shot up by more than 500 percent," said Lutz.
Lutz described the 9-euro ticket, which Deutsche Bahn sold 26 million times, as "a great success."
This had just reached its limits on bottleneck routes and at congested junctions.
"It would therefore be a good idea to invest at least one euro in improving the offer and expanding the infrastructure for every euro that flows into a follow-up ticket."
With a view to the train delays in recent months, Lutz said: “The quality and reliability of the train is currently unacceptable.” However, the train has taken measures to improve the situation.
For example, there would no longer be too short transfer times offered in the travel chain.
»I am confident: 2023 will be better.
Everything we have is rolling at the moment.«
mmq/Reuters/AFP
