"Massive trouble among passengers" - BRB boss bursts because of ailing tracks in the Oberland

Created: 07/08/2022 05:38

By: Christiane Mühlbauer

Has to drive slowly because of ailing tracks, sometimes it doesn't run at all: BRB in the Oberland.

BRB boss Arnulf Schuchmann is now venting his anger towards DB-Netz.

© Thomas Plettenberg/BRB

DB Netz AG construction sites mean trouble and costs for the Bavarian Regionalbahn.

BRB boss Arnulf Schuchmann has now burst the collar.

Holzkirchen – Just a few days ago, our newspaper reported on the slow-moving sections on the routes of the Bavarian Regional Railway (BRB) – also in the Miesbach district.

Now the BRB is literally bursting at the seams.

With reference to the numerous complaints and, as a press release puts it, "massive anger among passengers", the Holzkirchen-based company reports many difficulties in working with DB Netz AG.

More from BRB:

nine-euro ticket: full trains, but no chaos – BRB boss fears “short hype”

Because of construction sites: BRB boss bursts the collar - "excuses" and "stalling tactics"

BRB boss Arnulf Schuchmann is annoyed with DB Netz AG © BRB

The BRB writes about track position errors, switch faults, sleeper replacements and superstructure damage, which DB Netz AG cites as the reason for construction work and slow-moving sections.

The BRB usually has to pay for this, whose trains have massive delays and who also receive complaints from customers.

In addition to the annoyance for travelers, this also means enormous burdens for BRB employees and high costs.

By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Holzkirchen newsletter.

The entire BRB network is affected.

The company cites numerous examples in the press release.

Due to the slow-moving sections between Schliersee and Bayrischzell, there are delays in the entire Oberland network because the couplings and wings in Holzkirchen do not work as planned if the train parts arrive or depart late.

DB construction sites: massive train delays at the BRB and customer complaints

According to the BRB, DB Netz AG cannot say exactly when these slow-moving sections will be remedied.

The period between July 25th and August 12th is mentioned.

During the work, the first two and the last two trains will be canceled from Monday to Friday.

Means: Again rail replacement bus services.

also read

The last hope worked: the kebab stand remains in the Holzkirchen commercial area

Futile escape: Police caught Warngauer under the influence of drugs on a moped

The trains between Schaftlach and Bad Tölz are also currently running more slowly.

According to DB Netz AG, the background is construction activity at night.

Trouble for the BRB elsewhere: Between Weilheim and Dießen, the route was completely closed last Friday shortly before midnight until Saturday noon - and that in the middle of the weekend excursion traffic.

Problems at DB AG: too few staff, too many orders and too few companies

According to the BRB, there are also "little things" such as level crossing faults, signal faults and the like, which is also increasing.

"The daily list is getting longer and longer, and the delays are increasing," the BRB complains.

DB Netz AG has too few staff, too many orders and too few companies that can process the orders, says BRB Managing Director Arnulf Schuchmann.

"The answers from DB Netz AG to my urgent questions about eliminating the defects are always the same," said the BRB boss: "One tries and tries to accelerate and improve." Schuchmann: "That's for me pure delaying tactics and is of no use to us or the frustrated passengers.”

This "salami tactic" means that short-notice changes to the timetable have to be calculated day after day and entered into the information systems.

Due to the lead times of the various information channels and the difficulty of making forecasts for the onward journey, proper passenger information is hardly possible.

What also worries Schuchmann are the route charges that have to be paid for every kilometer that BRB drives in its five networks.

According to the company, these fees amount to around 1.5 million euros per week - regardless of whether the route is in perfect condition or not.

"If I have a rented apartment, I don't pay the full price if it rains through the roof," the BRB managing director compares the situation.

Then a rent reduction is due.

However, this has been rejected by DB Netz and local rail transport policy to this day.  

You can find more current news from the district of Miesbach, Holzkirchen and the Tegernsee region at Merkur.de/Holzkirchen.