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Deutsche Bahn Land Sales Under Fire
Deutsche Bahn's sale of numerous properties sparks controversy as it conflicts with Germany's railway expansion plans and new land-use regulations.
German
Germany
PoliticsGermany Real EstateRegulationsRailway
Deutsche BahnBundestagCduGreen Party
Matthias Gastel
- Why are the land sales controversial in the context of Germany's railway expansion plans?
- The sales are controversial because the land is needed for maintaining and expanding railway infrastructure to meet the goal of doubling rail passenger numbers and significantly increasing rail freight transport by 2030. The large-scale sales conflict with the stated need to accommodate this expansion.
- How many properties has Deutsche Bahn sold since 2020, and how much revenue has it generated?
- Deutsche Bahn has sold over 1,500 properties since 2020, generating around €364.4 million. They plan to sell an additional 250 properties in 2023 and 2024, expecting an extra €75 million.
- What is the main criticism of Deutsche Bahn's land sales, and who is expressing this criticism?
- Matthias Gastel, a Green Party member of the Bundestag, criticizes these sales, arguing that it shouldn't be a business model for Deutsche Bahn to sell off land needed for rail infrastructure. He points out that the number of sales contradicts the Bahn's previous claims of only making a few exceptions.
- What recent change in German law has affected the repurposing of railway land, and what are the consequences?
- The German government made it significantly harder to repurpose railway land late last year, requiring that any alternative use must be of 'overriding public interest'. This new regulation has created difficulties for some cities and municipalities seeking land, such as Stuttgart's plans for a residential area on the Stuttgart main station's former trackbed.
- What are the opposing viewpoints regarding Deutsche Bahn's land sales and the recent changes in land use regulations?
- Gastel calls for Deutsche Bahn to significantly change its behavior regarding land sales in the foreseeable future. The CDU has already called for relaxing the stricter land use regulations, highlighting the tension between land preservation for rail expansion and other pressing urban development needs.