Regulator fines German rail operator over poor construction planning

Germany's rail regulator has accused state-run rail operator Deutsche Bahn of "miserable" construction management, saying poor planning and short-notice works are disrupting traffic.

Klaus Müller, president of the Federal Network Agency, said modernizing Germany's rail network was a major challenge but could not come at the expense of day-to-day operations.

"Passenger and freight transport must continue," Müller told the Rheinische Post newspaper. He said short-notice construction sites were a particular problem. During the summer, Deutsche Bahn informed competitors of only 62% of construction works in time, a figure that fell to 55% in late autumn.

"This cannot continue," Müller said, adding that the regulator had already taken action against the company.

The agency has imposed coercive fines of €2.8 million ($3.3 million) on Deutsche Bahn's infrastructure unit InfraGO for inadequate advance notification of construction works. However, Müller said the measures had failed to bring about improvements.

"We are therefore now moving to penalty payments," he said, adding that Deutsche Bahn would be required to compensate all rail operators using the network.

For construction works communicated particularly late, Müller said regulators would go further. "Then, the construction cannot take place as planned," he said, noting that Deutsche Bahn has challenged the measure in court.