"Saxony encounters daily train disruptions and overcrowded vehicles, resulting in slow commutes for local transportation"
In the heart of Germany, the region of Saxony is grappling with a stagnant public transport system. The issue, according to various stakeholders, is rooted in insufficient targeted investments, outdated technology, and operational inefficiencies that lead to overcrowded regional trains and frequent cancellations.
A proposed solution to the Bahn's problems at the TU Ilmenau is a cooperative model. Meanwhile, the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) has criticized the new federal states, including Saxony, for relying heavily on federal funds while contributing relatively little from their own budgets.
The Chair of the Link Fraktion, Heidi Reichinnek, has called for the nationalization of the Bahn and criticized high bonuses for the Bahn board. The Federal Court of Auditors, in a 2023 report, criticized the states' use of federal tax allocations for not being used for their intended purpose.
Amidst these criticisms, the federal government has acknowledged the need for action to clearly regulate that federal funds actually arrive in rail traffic. The government has also admitted that Germany invested a record amount in the rail network in 2024 but still lags behind in the EU comparison.
Industry associations call for long-term financing and more speed in expansion and digitization. The economy in Chemnitz, a city in Saxony, needs the rail expansion urgently, according to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Chemnitz.
Chemnitz's mayor, Sven Schulze (SPD), demands that the Free State keeps its word and drives the project forward consistently. The situation has become more crowded on the Chemnitz-Leipzig route, with a 40% increase in passengers to 1.8 million in the past five years. However, older trains are currently in use due to delays from manufacturer Alstom.
Despite the forthcoming arrival of new trains, the Chemnitz-Leipzig route will remain a bottleneck due to being mostly single-track and used by several companies. The region has been hoping for years for a double-track, electrified expansion for more frequent and reliable connections.
To address these issues, key changes are required. These include allocating targeted funding to upgrade and expand rail infrastructure and rolling stock, accelerating the adoption of modern and environmentally friendly technologies, enhancing operational management to reduce cancellations and manage passenger loads better, and increasing coordination between federal and state governments to better use special funds for public transport improvements.
Without such coordinated, well-funded efforts focusing on technology and operational reform, the stagnation, overcrowding, and cancellations are likely to continue, affecting the economy and the daily lives of millions of passengers in Saxony.
- Industry associations in Saxony, such as the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Chemnitz, have stressed the necessity of long-term financing and faster expansion and digitization of the public transport system, claiming that it's vital for the region's economy, especially for cities like Chemnitz.
- The finance sector, represented by the Federal Court of Auditors, has also criticized the states' use of federal tax allocations for not being utilized for their intended purpose, calling for clear regulations to ensure federal funds actually arrive in rail traffic.
