The Christian Social Union (CSU), the sister party of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Bavaria, has had significant influence over Germany’s transport policy, including the railway system, for much of the past two decades. Several of its federal transport ministers, or Bundesverkehrsminister, have held key positions shaping the country’s infrastructure policies. Many critics argue that their decisions have contributed to the poor service of Deutsche Bahn (DB) in the following ways:

1. Shift of Focus to Roads and Cars

• The CSU has traditionally emphasized policies that favor road infrastructure and the automotive industry, reflecting its electoral base in Bavaria, where car manufacturers like BMW and Audi are prominent.
• Several federal transport ministers from the CSU have prioritized road construction and highway expansion over rail investments. As a result, the rail system did not receive the necessary modernization funds while the autobahn network expanded.
• This pro-car focus has contributed to a long-term underfunding of rail infrastructure, leading to aging tracks, outdated signaling systems, and insufficient capacity at DB.

2. Underfunding of Deutsche Bahn

• Under successive CSU transport ministers, there have been criticisms that Deutsche Bahn has suffered from chronic underfunding. While there has been some public investment, it often fell short of the amount needed to address backlogs in rail maintenance and modernization.
• CSU ministers, who had a hand in shaping budgetary priorities, have been criticized for not pushing hard enough to increase federal funding for railway infrastructure or adequately ensuring that Deutsche Bahn’s profits were reinvested in service improvements.

3. Neglect of Regional and Local Train Services

• While long-distance and high-speed services like the ICE network have seen improvements, regional and local train services—critical for many daily commuters—have lagged behind.
• CSU-led transport ministries have faced accusations of neglecting regional railway lines, particularly those that are less profitable. This has resulted in poor service quality, frequent delays, and overcrowding in local trains, which has been a consistent source of public frustration.

4. Lack of Strategic Railway Investment

• Successive CSU ministers, particularly Alexander Dobrindt (2013-2017) and Andreas Scheuer (2018-2021), have been criticized for a lack of strategic vision in railway investment.
• Dobrindt and Scheuer focused more on high-visibility projects like the introduction of toll systems for trucks (and a controversial attempt to introduce car tolls), which drew public resources and attention away from much-needed railway infrastructure.
• These ministers have been criticized for failing to address structural problems at Deutsche Bahn, such as its massive maintenance backlog and service disruptions, which worsened under their tenure.

5. Railway Reform and Market Liberalization

• The CSU’s involvement in market liberalization, in line with broader EU directives, has opened the railway network to more private competition. However, the way this has been implemented under CSU leadership has been problematic.
• Critics argue that market liberalization in the German rail sector, particularly in freight and regional transport, has led to inefficiencies and coordination problems between private operators and Deutsche Bahn. The fragmentation of responsibilities has slowed progress in improving service quality.

6. Failure to Push Deutsche Bahn Reforms

• Despite clear signs that Deutsche Bahn was facing systemic issues, several CSU transport ministers did not aggressively push for comprehensive internal reforms at DB.
• DB continued to focus on international expansion and its logistics business (through DB Schenker), rather than fully addressing passenger service issues. This imbalance persisted under CSU-led transport ministries, which could have pushed for a more customer-focused approach at DB but instead often avoided significant restructuring efforts.

Specific Ministers and Their Impact:

• Alexander Dobrindt (2013-2017): Under Dobrindt, criticism grew over the neglect of the railway system. While his ministry initiated some investments in rail, they were widely seen as insufficient to solve the deep-rooted infrastructure and operational issues. His tenure was more noted for his focus on digital infrastructure and the road toll debate.
• Andreas Scheuer (2018-2021): Scheuer’s tenure was marked by the failed car toll project, which overshadowed much of his time in office. Critics argue that his focus on this project diverted attention from the urgent needs of the railway system. Scheuer also faced criticism for failing to secure sufficient investment for Deutsche Bahn’s infrastructure.

Conclusion

The CSU, through its long tenure at the helm of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport, played a significant role in shaping the policy direction that contributed to the current challenges faced by Deutsche Bahn. Underfunding, pro-car policies, and a lack of strategic focus on rail modernization are key factors. Ministers like Dobrindt and Scheuer have been particularly criticized for neglecting necessary reforms and investments, leaving DB to struggle with aging infrastructure, delays, and poor service quality.

The CSU’s policy approach has been seen as prioritizing the automotive industry and road infrastructure over public transportation, contributing to the long-standing issues of Germany’s rail service.

Reference:

Igl, W. (2024-09-20). Prompt: “How has the political party “CSU” and its federal ministers (“Bundesverkehrsminister”) have contributed to the poor service of the German railway system (“Deutsche Bahn”)?”. https://chatgpt.com