Title: German rail reform: railway policy realigned for the capital markets

Authors: Tim Engartner

Addresses: Department of Comparative Educational Research and Social Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Cologne, Gronewaldstr. 2, D-50931 Koln, Germany

Abstract: The reform of the |Deutsche Bahn| must be considered as one of the most controversial traffic policy decisions for several decades. Although an increase in passenger numbers and freight should be the top priority, the management relentlessly aims at increasing share value on the stock market. This strategy, vigorously discussed in parliament, involves raising fares, selling stations and restricting the rail network in the short term. Meanwhile it also shows evidence of a longer-term strategy, which is backed by the federal government: implementing market concepts that do not match constitutional requirements, such as the presence of area-wide railway services.

Keywords: privatisation; deregulation; railways; capital market; neoliberalism; Germany; Switzerland; British Rail; rail reform; share value; railway services; Deutsche Bahn.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2010.031207

International Journal of Public Policy, 2010 Vol.6 No.1/2, pp.73 - 86

Published online: 25 Jan 2010 *

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