Deutsche Bahn to reintroduce glyphosate for track maintenance

Deutsche Bahn subsidiary InfraGo has announced a policy reversal regarding the use of the herbicide glyphosate. After discontinuing the substance in 2023 in favor of mechanical mowing and pelargonic acid, the company plans to reintroduce glyphosate in a limited capacity starting next spring.

InfraGo stated that alternative herbicides, specifically pelargonic acid, have proven insufficiently effective at keeping tracks, switches, and signals clear of vegetation. The company noted that heavy plant growth can obstruct views of signals and restrict emergency access routes, posing risks to safe railway operations.

InfraGo has submitted applications to the Federal Railway Authority (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt) for usage permits. While environmental groups have long campaigned for a ban on glyphosate, the company pointed out that railway operators in neighboring countries, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Poland, continue to use the chemical for vegetation control.