Monopolies Commission demands: Deutsche Bahn smashed!

An ICE is parked at a platform in Berlin Central Station (archive photo)

An ICE is parked at a platform in Berlin Central Station (archive photo) Photo: picture alliance/dpa

From the BZ editorial team

That would make many customers happy!

The Monopolies Commission, which advises the federal government on competition issues, recommends splitting up Deutsche Bahn. Reason: That would ensure more competition. This means that dissatisfied customers would have the choice of driving with the competition.

“The Deutsche Bahn Group has to be restructured,” said Jürgen Kühling, chairman of the monopoly commission, of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.

Specifically, the competition watchdogs want the state-owned company to be divided into an infrastructure and a transport division.

The goal: more competition in the railway market and more quality at Deutsche Bahn.

Everyone knows: Deutsche Bahn recently had to deal with strikes, delays, many construction sites and dissatisfied customers.

Kühling explained that the railway had been underfinanced for many years. There is a considerable investment backlog, he said, which is now finally being tackled. “But that takes a lot of staying power,” said Kühling.

On Tuesday, Kühling intends to publish the 9th “Railway Sector Report” by the Monopolies Commission and hand it over to the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Transport.

Subjects:

Deutsche Bahn news

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