General framework
Train-path Fees for 2025
The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur; BNetzA) approved the train-path pricing system (TPS) 2025 in a decision dated March 22, 2024. The effective increase in usage fees compared to the previous year is 17.7% in long-distance passenger rail transport, 16.2% in rail freight transport and 0.6% in local passenger rail transport. Due to the merger of DB Station & Service AG and DB Netz AG, the costs of the platforms must be integrated into the minimum access package of the train-paths from TPS 2025. As this step simultaneously leads to a corresponding reduction in the station pricing system, the actual impact of the increase in passenger transport fees is lower and amounts to 0.6% (nominally 6.7%) in regional passenger rail transport and 17.7% (nominally 19.7%) in long-distance passenger rail transport. Across all types of transport, the effective increase in fees is about 6.0%.
Station fees for 2025
On September 6, 2024, the BNetzA issued a resolution approving the 2025 station fees. The BNetzA approved the 2025 station fees with a small number of deductions. Overall, average fee increases of 1.67% (regional rail passenger transport) and 7.40% (long-distance rail passenger transport) were approved. DB InfraGO AG has filed an appeal against the BNetzA’s decision to approve the usage fees for passenger stations (fee approval 2025) with reference to the regional rail passenger transport fee cap.