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Where is the train going?
The parties have different ideas about the role that long-distance rail transport should play in the future
Photo: Ralph Peters / IMAGO
Delays, canceled trains, signal disruptions - there has been a hitch in Deutsche Bahn's operations for many years, customers are annoyed.
Even in the 2020 corona year, only 81.8 percent of all ICE and IC / EC trains were on time according to DB information.
And this despite the fact that only journeys with a delay of more than fifteen minutes are included in the statistics.
Last year around 80 million passengers took the DB long-distance trains, significantly fewer than before the pandemic.
In the future, more people should get on board again, the parties represented in the Bundestag agree.
While there are sometimes major differences between the parties on the role that cars and bicycles should play in tomorrow's mobility, they surprisingly agree on the subject of railways.
The election programs show which measures are to be used to specifically strengthen rail transport in the future.
SPIEGEL has spotted them.
CDU / CSU: Through the republic in Germany
In the very first chapter of the Union mobility program, the train comes before the car.
"A strong rail network and local public transport are an important factor in the decarbonization of transport," it says there - a typical party manifesto commonplace.
After all, there is a little more substance behind it.
Expand Germany bar area
The Union wants to "strengthen rail traffic with the German clock".
The term hides the goal of establishing a reliable train timetable that is coordinated throughout Germany.
This should significantly improve both passenger and freight traffic.
By 2030, twice as many passengers as today should be brought to their destination safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.
The market share of rail freight transport is to increase to at least 25 percent.
The aim of the Union is to "reduce the amount of traffic jams on the motorways".
The funds for improving rail freight traffic are also to be increased and train path prices are to be reduced.
Expand digitization area
In order to "close gaps, electrify routes and create more capacity" in the rail network, the CDU / CSU want to digitize the routes.
To this end, the European Train Control System (ETCS) is to be expanded, a radio network with a route control center to control trains centrally.
Trains can also run without light signals.
Expand area
For the Union, night trains are “part of the mobility mix of the future”.
In order to enable more journeys at night, the CDU / CSU want to improve noise protection.
SPD: Hydrogen, march!
"Rail travel should be cheaper and more attractive within Europe than flying."
Expand Germany bar area
The SPD, too, is in favor of implementing the Germany Clock - and building up the "Europe Clock".
To this end, the SPD wants to invest heavily: in the expansion of the rail network, noise protection and more attractive train stations.
"Our goal is to reconnect all major cities to the long-distance network." For this purpose, old railway lines are also to be reactivated.
In the previous term of office, the Social Democrats apparently did not do enough.
As early as 2019, the Greens complained that eleven large cities, including Bottrop, Offenbach, Leverkusen and Chemnitz, were not connected to the grid.
Expand digitization area
The SPD is also calling for the digitization of rail transport.
In contrast to the Union, however, the Social Democrats hardly elaborate on that.
It simply means that they want to "invest in the renewal and digitization of locomotives and wagons".
To this end, the SPD describes how trains and buses are to be made more attractive in the future, especially in the local transport sector: with "area-wide W-LAN and a reservation option for seats".
In addition, the SPD wants to promote the 365-euro ticket and support model projects for ticket-free local transport.
Expand the Electrification area
The SPD wants to electrify 75 percent of the rail network by 2030.
This share is currently 61 percent.
But trains should also be as climate-friendly as possible on non-electrified routes.
The SPD provides for "mandatory uses such as the use of hydrogen-powered trains".
An ambitious goal, considering that few hydrogen trains are or have been on the road so far, for example on a trial basis in the Weser-Elbe network between Buxtehude and Bremerhaven.
The railway area remains a state affair
The SPD wants to keep Deutsche Bahn "as an integrated publicly owned company."
That means: The network should not be separated from the company.
Some experts hope that such a separation will result in more competition and lower prices for passengers and freight.
AfD: Switzerland as a role model
The AfD puts the automobile in the first place in the mobility chapter of its election program, but after that the AfD also deals with the railways.
Expand Germany bar area
Like the other parties, the AfD is also committed to “a better developed and coordinated local and long-distance public transport network”.
This should be based on the "simple and reliable model of Switzerland".
In fact, this is supposed to be done by the Deutschlandtakt in this country.
The "shortening of travel times on all connections" should be the top priority.
Expand area Networking of mobility offers
"Punctuality, safety and cleanliness as well as optimal timing of bus, train and networking with air traffic must be guaranteed." To this end, the AfD wants to expand the high-speed network in particular.
FDP: No more state railways
The FDP has the most radical change proposals of all parties for the railway.
In view of this, however, the explanations are kept very brief.
Privatize Rail Operations Expand
The goal of the Free Democrats is to "transport more people and goods by rail."
To make this possible, the FDP wants to separate the infrastructure and rail operations of the rails from one another.
The operation is to be privatized, the networks remain the property of the federal government.
In this way, the federal government should be able to “concentrate fully on the provision and modernization of the infrastructure”.
Private railway companies should compete with one another, so that customers benefit from »lower prices, better service and more offers in rail transport«.
This is not possible with a state railway, writes the FDP.
In addition, the rail is to be digitized and train path prices are to be reduced.
The left: drive more, pay less
More traffic on new rails and tickets at lower prices - the left demands all of this in its election manifesto.
However, the party leaves open how the many proposals and the necessary expenses can be financed.
Expand Germany bar area
Similar to the SPD, the left also thinks beyond borders.
It wants all major European cities to be connected to the network by 2030 "in a coordinated schedule".
To this end, the party is planning, among other things, a reactivation program for disused railway lines.
In order to transport more people and goods by rail, train path prices are to be halved and public investments in rail infrastructure are to be increased fivefold.
For example, ICE trains should travel on modern tracks at up to 250 km / h and run at "at least every hour".
Where will the money for these investments come from?
That remains open.
Expand the Electrification area
Like the SPD, the Left is relying on the electrification of the railway lines.
In contrast to the SPD, however, the party demands that not 75 percent, but rather all routes traveled by diesel vehicles be electrified "or converted to alternative and sustainable drive technologies".
The left also envision hydrogen and battery drives.
Expand area
Like the CDU, the Left is calling for more night trains.
In a Europe-wide night train network, it is intended to make "travel comfortably and ecologically even without a plane possible".
The left wants to make the noise barriers to be erected for local art projects available - this is how the transport policy does not only appeal to rail freaks.
Expand areaDemocratic Citizens' Railways
As expected, the left takes the exact opposite view of the FDP when it comes to privatization.
The socialists are calling for a democratic civil railway: "All privatizations, outsourcing and splitting of existing railway companies and also the conversion of DB into a stock corporation must be reversed."
Fold up the Cheaper driving area
The left wants to make train tickets cheaper.
A social train card for low-income households is to cut ticket prices in half.
The Left wants to gradually design public transport free of charge.
Projects like the 365-euro ticket are intended to serve as an interim solution.
The Bahncard should also be applicable to regional transport associations.
The share of public transport users is to be doubled by 2030.
How all of this is to be financed remains largely open.
It is mentioned that »expensive and nonsensical prestige projects« are being evaporated and that the money is to be invested in route and network modernization instead.
The Greens: New night train network for Europe
For the Greens, one thing is clear: "An efficient, reliable railway is the backbone of a sustainable transport turnaround." To ensure this, the party has formulated various demands.
AreaGermanytakt, expand ticket prices
The Greens also rely on the Germany clock.
Like the SPD and the Left, the Greens are calling for disused railway lines to be put back into operation.
The train path prices are to be reduced significantly.
In addition, regional traffic is to be increased.
All major German cities are to be connected to the long-distance network, which the Greens had advocated for in the past.
In ten years, the railway should be completely barrier-free, if the Greens have their way.
Digitization and Electrification expand
The Greens want to push ahead with both of these "swiftly".
The Greens are relying on a federally owned infrastructure, which should reduce the "pressure to have to make profits" and end chronic underfunding.
To this end, an additional 100 billion euros are to be invested in the rail network and train stations by 2035.
Local public transport is also to be strengthened.
Regionalization funds, i.e. funds that the federal government makes available to the federal states annually to finance local rail passenger transport, are to be increased for a specific purpose.
This is nothing new.
Because in 2020 it was decided to raise an additional 5.2 billion euros by 2031.
The money is to come from a new infrastructure fund, which among other things "feeds itself from income from the truck toll".
Drive Cheaper and more areafold
Like the left, the Green Railways want to make rail travel cheaper.
"We especially want to support young people in training or studies with climate-friendly and affordable mobility." In contrast to the left, however, the Greens do not list what exactly this should look like.
In return, however, they want "that in the future all volunteers, like soldiers today, can travel free of charge with Deutsche Bahn."
Expand public transport area
The Greens also want to double the number of passengers in public transport by 2030.
To this end, it should be better linked with other mobility offers, such as the long-distance network and bike & ride offers.
In addition, where possible, the tram should be expanded or reactivated.
The Greens also want to make public transport cheaper, but they do not promise anything more specific than "attractive price offers including ticketless public transport".
Area: Unfold new night train network
Like the CDU and the Left, the Greens are relying on night trains and want to improve noise protection at the same time.
In addition, "fast sprinter trains" are to be used, which cover connections over 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers in eight to 16 hours.
The vision: You could become part of a European night train network.
