German states to sue over rising railway track access charges

German federal states are preparing to file a lawsuit at the Cologne Administrative Court regarding increased track access charges (Trassenpreise). Saarland Transport Minister Petra Berg announced that the legal action is being organized and will be submitted in the coming days, citing a lack of signals from the federal government in Berlin regarding a reform of these prices.

Two states intend to join the lawsuit filed by railway companies immediately, while all other states will provide financial support following an agreement by the Transport Ministers' Conference. The primary objective is to prevent additional costs totaling several hundred million euros.

Officials warn that without full financial compensation, states may be forced to cancel train connections, a process that has reportedly already begun in some areas. This development poses a potential risk to the viability of the ‘Deutschlandticket’, as rising costs could lead to reduced service availability despite passenger subscriptions.