At the heart of their concerns is a change in DB Netz's cancellation fees. What's going on? They are opposed to punitive cancellation fees being introduced by DB Netz in 2024 without "any meaningful prior discussion and without sufficient consideration of input from the sector, particularly from international operators," according to the letter addressed to Michael Theurer, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, and Kristian Schmidt, the EC's director of land transport:
"Until now, a minimum fee of EUR 0.05/path kilometer was due for the cancellation of train paths more than 30 days before the day of operation, capped at a maximum of EUR 491. According to the new train path price system 2024, DB Netz AG will increase that amount six-fold to EUR 0,30 EUR/path kilometer in the ”Standard“ train segment (corresponds to 15%) for all cancellations from November 30th for the following timetable year for each canceled individual train path - in the worst case for up to 365 days. For a daily train connection of 1,000 km this would be approximately 100,000 EUR. For comparison, passenger services only pay a 2% cancellation fee despite the fact that these services are not subject to economic and supply chain volatility. We feel that this is a strong discrimination against the rail freight sector versus passenger rail, and especially road transport, where there are clearly no cancellation fees. Progressively higher rates of up to 200% apply to all cancellations made with less notice," wrote the CEOs of Europe's largest rail freight companies: Dirk Stahl (CEO BLS Cargo), Laurence Zenner (CEO CFL Cargo), Bernard Gustin (CEO Lineas), Roger Mahler (CEO Metrans Germany), Désirée Baer (CEO SBB Cargo), Clemens Först (CEO Rail Cargo Group) and Marcel Theis (COO SBB Cargo International).
For these reasons, they fear serious competitive disadvantages in view of the cancellation fees proposed by DB Netz for 2024. The proposed restructuring is taking place in a situation of unreliable capacity, which threatens rail freight's ability to meet its modal shift targets of shifting 30% of all goods transported in Europe to rail by 2030, according to the signatories.
The joint appeal calls for a mandatory review of cancellation reasons by DB Netz AG and an adjustment of cancellation fees in line with market conditions in the new train path pricing system for 2024. The signatories of the letter are ready to discuss this issue further and to work together to find a satisfactory solution for all parties, they concluded.
