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The second wave of corona compounds the problems of Deutsche Bahn. By 2020, a loss of billions of dollars appears. With the new crown rules, the federal and state governments now want to impose more distance on train travel.
Deutsche Bahn is apparently heading for a record loss. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a reduction of 5.6 billion euros is expected for the current year, the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” reported, citing internal company documents for the next railway supervisory council meeting on 9 December. Long-distance trains are currently only used by an average of 20 percent, regional trains 55 to 60 percent.
New federal and state requirements to contain the pandemic could exacerbate Deutsche Bahn’s financial woes. The current model for today’s deliberations between the Prime Minister and Chancellor Angela Merkel contains several concrete proposals for rail transport, as unanimously reported by news agencies.
More seats and fewer reservations
For one thing, the seating capacity should be “significantly increased.” The goal is to allow a greater distance between travelers. At the same time, seat availability will be restricted. “In principle, all window seats can only be reserved for the winter months,” says the staff. Aisle seats, on the other hand, would be largely locked into the reservation system and then could no longer be reserved.
According to plans, only one seat should be reserved per double seat on all trains. In the case of seating groups with a table, only the diagonally opposite seats can be reserved. In the six-seat compartments, only two seats could be reserved. Provide areas where adjacent seats can be reserved for people traveling together. As an additional measure, mask controls on the train will be stepped up.
The Court of Auditors criticizes the state aid approach
As a result of the pandemic, Deutsche Bahn is struggling with very low passenger numbers, especially in long-distance traffic. During the first half of the year, the group had already recorded a loss of 3.7 billion euros. To compensate for this deficit, the federal government promised the state company in the June economic stimulus package an increase in equity by five billion euros.
The Federal Audit Office yesterday expressly criticized this approach. There are signs that business in 2020 will not have gone as badly as expected in the spring, according to a report to the Bundestag’s budget committee. “In this context, the immediate and full disbursement of the capital aid of five billion euros cannot be justified,” wrote the Federal Audit Office. Instead, aid should only be paid for gradually with evidence of damage that has already occurred.
