# German regional rail track access charge dispute > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-regional-rail-track-access-charge-dispute > Updated: 2026-09-01T11:05:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. German federal states and rail associations have initiated legal action at the Cologne Administrative Court to contest rising track access charges (Trassenpreise) for regional passenger rail. The dispute follows a March ruling by the European Court of Justice which determined that previous pricing models—which capped regional costs by shifting the burden to freight and long-distance transport—were inconsistent with European law. In response, the Federal Network Agency released new pricing. The Federal Association of Regional Rail Transport (BSN), various railway companies, and the state of Bavaria have filed suit to address these changes. Projections suggest a 9 percent price increase for 2026, totaling approximately 400 million euros in additional costs, with further annual increases expected. German states, including Saarland and Bavaria, have organized legal and financial support to prevent these costs. Officials have warned that without compensation, states may be forced to cancel train connections, potentially threatening the viability of the ‘Deutschlandticket’ due to reduced service availability. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-01: German rail associations sue over regional track access charges The BSN and several railway companies, including the state of Bavaria, have sued to contest rising track access charges for German regional rail following a European Court of Justice ruling. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-rail-associations-sue-over-regional-track-access-charges ### 2026-08-26: German states to sue over rising railway track access charges German states are preparing a lawsuit in Cologne against rising track access charges to prevent hundreds of millions in extra costs and potential cuts to rail services and the Deutschlandticket. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-states-to-sue-over-rising-railway-track-access-charges --- Cite as: German regional rail track access charge dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-regional-rail-track-access-charge-dispute