Insufficient funding jeopardizes the growth of highway and railway systems - States plea for a solution - Inadequate financing jeopardizes expansion of highways and railway networks - nations appeal for financial assistance
The federal budget for 2026 is currently under discussion in the parliamentary process, and a looming concern is the potential halt of all new construction projects in Germany's long-distance road and railway network. According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, this threat extends to new and expansion projects such as the route between Augsburg and Ulm, the Brenner approach in the Inn valley, the Rhine valley route towards Switzerland, and the new connection between Frankfurt and Mannheim.
The transport carriers — road, rail, and waterway — are not expected to be adequately financed until 2029, despite a planned special asset infrastructure of 500 billion euros. This has sparked criticism from the states, who argue that the federal government is not meeting its promises, which may lead to significant delays or even standstill in the expansion of roads, railways, and waterways.
Hamburg CDU politician Christoph Ploß has expressed concern about the impact on projects in Northern Germany, specifically mentioning new construction projects for the highways A20, A26, and A39. He urges for this to be corrected in parliament. Bavaria's minister-president Markus Söder demands a significant increase in the transport budget, stating the previous financial plans of the federal government are insufficient.
The ministers of the states have demanded that ongoing projects be pursued with determination and ready-to-build projects be implemented promptly. NRW transport minister Oliver Krischer criticizes the federal government's handling of the situation, stating it undermines efforts to resolve the maintenance backlog in transport infrastructure in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Hamburg CDU politician Christoph Ploß emphasizes that saving on infrastructure is putting the economic foundation of the country at risk. The Bundestag is expected to discuss the budget for 2026 and financial planning until 2029 next week, with the hope of finding a solution to address these concerns.
However, there is no specific information about the exact transport budget amount the German federal government should consider for the legislative period 2026-2029 in response to the criticism from the federal states and the need for a remedy. The expansion of the A1 in Hamburg is also reportedly at risk, and the new construction and expansion of railway lines in the region may at least be delayed.
The federal government is expected to ensure adequate financing for the expansion, maintenance, and renovation of federal transport infrastructure. The debate continues as the Bundestag prepares for next week's discussion, and the future of Germany's transport infrastructure hangs in the balance.
