Criticism of the dilapidated railway infrastructure: unions demand changes!

Criticism of the dilapidated railway infrastructure: unions demand changes!

The Fulda local branch's New Year's reception took place on January 19, 2026, and the chairman was full of optimism as he looked to the upcoming events and union challenges in the new year. As evg-online.org reports, the central topic of the speech was the dilapidated railway infrastructure. Despite extensive investments, there is a lack of urgently needed funds for the renovation, which further increases the challenges for Deutsche Bahn AG and DB Cargo.

With regard to the current situation at DB Cargo, it became clear that a comprehensive transformation to sustainably improve profitability is already in full swing. These changes include a customer-focused structure that will come into effect from January 1, 2025, as ibir.deutschebahn.com explains in detail. Consolidations and simplification of production and administrative processes are at the top of the agenda in order to increase efficiency and strengthen competitiveness.

The role of trade unions

In his speech, the chairman emphasized the essential role of trade unions, especially in times of upheaval. These represent the interests of employees in the companies and thus ensure strong union representation. He particularly thanked the active members of the company groups, the senior representatives, the youth and women's groups, who make a significant contribution to the success of the union's activities.

Another important point in the planned transformation concerns rail freight transport, which is divided into various sectors, including automotive, steel, liquids & bulk and full loads. These sectors are responsible not only for commercial success, but also for the quality of the services offered. From the beginning of 2025, DB Cargo will also offer special services that enable more efficient locomotive and personnel deployment.

The path to improvement

One challenge that is emerging is the need to adapt the allocation of funding. DB Cargo will already receive 60% of the funding for single wagon transport in 2024, but has a market share of around 90%. In order to increase quality for customers, higher transport frequencies and standardization of processes should be implemented. From the end of 2024, combined transport will work with a new model for train drivers, which will be adapted for both new and existing employees.

The transformation also includes a reduction in the number of personnel required in planning and administration. More than 1,000 employees were laid off due to age or as part of a group program. In addition, a project was launched to support the transformation, which includes a communications and a project management team. These steps are intended to ensure that DB Cargo is on the right track to operate successfully in the changing market landscape and to increase the quality of its services.

In this dynamic environment, it is paramount that workers are well represented and unions play a supportive role. The New Year's reception was therefore not only an occasion to celebrate, but also a motivating reminder that there is still a lot to be done to overcome the challenges facing the railway and logistics industries.