Criticism of rail corridor renovations: works council boss calls for rethinking

The railway corridor renovations are expensive, lengthy and controversial. Now Ralf Damde, who sits on the company's supervisory board and is head of the works council at DB Regio, is also raising concerns.

The head of the DB Regio works council, Ralf Damde, questions the concept of corridor renovations, in which routes are closed for months and completely renovated. “We have to get back to the point where we are driving and renovating at the same time,” said Damde, who also sits on the supervisory board of Deutsche Bahn, to the “Tagesspiegel”.

“Locomotive drivers, customer service representatives, workshop employees and dispatchers can only wait for the route to be open again during the corridor renovations,” said Damde. "I wonder what will happen to these employees in the meantime." He also criticized the high costs of corridor renovations, in which almost all components along a route are replaced. “It doesn’t make sense to tear out a component that still works well,” said the trade unionist.

The concept of corridor renovation was introduced by former railway boss Richard Lutz and the former transport minister Volker Wissing. Originally, more than 40 corridors were supposed to be renovated by 2030 - but this schedule was then extended. Several railway lines have already been renovated, although sometimes with delays and higher costs than originally planned.

Former Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder from the CDU had already announced that he would fundamentally review the concept. His successor and party colleague Steffen Bilger is also critical of the corridor renovations. There is also criticism from the freight railway association. He speaks of “chaotic conditions” and calls for route renovations without full closures. Bahn boss Evelyn Palla said at the beginning of July that she would review the concept.

According to media reports, the first key points have already been determined. The renovations should be re-prioritized and coordinated more closely, and routes should be gradually put back into operation after renovation. In general, Palla is sticking to the concept.