Preparation of the 2024 schedule
About 91,000 train-path applications have been received for the 2024 working schedule (+ about 2%). The situation surrounding existing train-path capacity is therefore even more tense than in the previous year. There were also registration conflicts, where several TOCs ordered the same time slot on the same infrastructure. While the number of registration conflicts only increased slightly, the number of capacity conflicts has approximately doubled to a total of 111. A capacity conflict arises as a result of construction-related restrictions, for which capacity was distributed in advance for the transport types long-distance rail passenger transport, regional rail passenger transport and rail freight transport. In the event of a capacity conflict, there are more train-paths registered for one type of transport than there is capacity. The majority of the capacity conflicts in the 2024 schedule resulted from the general modernization of the Riedbahn. As a result, significantly more train-path inquiries had to be rejected or shortened than in the previous year. The fact that competition on the rails is continuing to increase is demonstrated above all by the train-path applications from non-Group TOCs. Their share in long-distance rail passenger transport increased by about 43%, although registrations in the sector overall rose by only about 14%. In regional rail passenger transport, the number of registrations of non-Group TOCs increased by about 13%, while the overall market declined slightly. In rail freight transport, non-Group TOCs also grew significantly more strongly (+45%) than the overall market (+12%). The schedule process is subject to a very strict regulatory framework and is monitored by the BNetzA. The working schedule for 2023/2024 was completed in due time in November 2023.
