DB Netz

Initially founded in 1998, DB Netz was the subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn responsible for owning and operating the majority of Germany's railway network. On January 1, 2024, DB Netz AG merged with DB Station&Service AG to form DB InfraGO AG. This merger was a strategic reform by the German federal government and Deutsche Bahn to create a single, common-good-oriented infrastructure company. The new entity, DB InfraGO, combines the management of Germany's approximately 33,400-kilometer rail network with its 5,400 passenger stations, aiming to improve coordination, quality, and capacity.

The formation of DB InfraGO was driven by the need to address the declining quality and punctuality of Germany's rail infrastructure, which resulted from years of underinvestment and a fragmented management structure. By unifying track and station operations, the new company aims for greater synergies and efficiency. DB InfraGO operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG, but with a mandate oriented toward public welfare, or "Gemeinwohlorientiert" (the "GO" in its name). This means its primary focus is on the maintenance, modernization, and expansion of the rail system to meet the needs of the public, the economy, and the environment.

The business model relies on providing non-discriminatory access to the rail network and its facilities to over 450 rail transport companies. Revenue is primarily generated from route fees paid by these operators for using the tracks, which is regulated by the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). While profitable from these fees, the company also receives significant public funding from the federal government for the maintenance and expansion of the network. The German government has committed around 40 billion euros in additional funding to support a comprehensive modernization program.

Keywords: railway infrastructure, rail network management, station operations, public transport, German railways, infrastructure operator, track maintenance, passenger stations, rail logistics, Deutsche Bahn subsidiary, common good-oriented, federal transport infrastructure, non-discriminatory access, route fees, train-path pricing, railway modernization, European rail network