German states threaten legal action over higher rail track charges

The states put the extra costs for regional rail at several hundred million euros on top of the existing funding gap and demand compensation within 2026, for example through higher regionalisation funds, plus a reform of the charging system (e.g. based on the marginal-cost principle); without compensation, cancellations of regional services loom.

At the end of July the Federal Network Agency set new 2026 track charges after the cap on increases was declared invalid, which burdens the states' regional rail services with several hundred million euros. The Conference of Transport Ministers unanimously agreed on 6 August 2026 to act jointly: the federal government is to compensate the extra costs in full within this year, for example through higher regionalisation funds, and to reform the charging system, otherwise the states intend to sue. On 10 September 2026 the regional rail association BSN said the agency intends to fix the 2027 charges before the timetable change on 13 December 2026, despite its request for a postponement; an increase of 7.8% has been announced for regional services. On 22 September 2026 four rail associations put the expected 2027 rises at 12.6% on average for freight and 7.8% for regional passenger services and regard the track-charge reform planned for 1 January 2027 as out of reach. (LOK Report, 6 Aug, 10 Sep and 22 Sep 2026)