Photo Gallery Setting a New Course
In the wake of winter-related chaos on Germany's railroad system, Transportation Minister Peter Ramsauer is planning far-reaching reforms to Deutsche Bahn. A long-planned privatization looks likely to be watered down, and more money will be made available for infrastructure investment.
Transportation Minister Ramsauer (right) talks to Deutsche Bahn CEO Rüdiger Grube. Possible scenarios that transportation policy experts in the governing coalition are currently exploring are unlikely to go down well with Grube -- they amount to nothing less than a departure from the previous privatization plans.
A high-speed ICE train on display at a trade fair in Berlin (2010 photo): The plans amount to a minor revolution. As part of the changes, DB Netz, which runs the lucrative monopoly consisting of the track network and train stations, will operate far more independently of its parent company.
