Five scenarios that will shape the future of the railways
The rail transport sector in Germany is on the verge of groundbreaking developments. Our study presents five realistic future scenarios – from the challenges posed by outdated structures to the complete integration of the railways into a sustainable mobility system.
Five alternative future scenarios form the range of possibilities: from an outdated, stagnating rail network to railways as the core of an intelligent mobility system.
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Competitiveness and infrastructure as key issues: Without targeted investment and modernisation, railways will remain at a disadvantage in competition with alternative modes of transport
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Digitalisation as an enabler of efficiency: automation, AI and data-driven mobility solutions are crucial for higher capacities and better passenger services
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Political decisions determine success: subsidies, regulations and strategic investments have a significant influence on which scenario becomes reality
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Customer focus: There needs to be a stronger focus on passengers’ needs – from improved services to seamless booking systems
- Cooperation instead of competition: Greater cooperation between transport providers will promote interoperability and make multimodal services more attractive
The railway as a central component of mobility in 2035
H&Z sees rail transport as an essential component of a sustainable and efficient mobility strategy.
But that requires courageous decisions:
- Investment in infrastructure and digitalisation must be accelerated to avoid bottlenecks
- Strengthen innovation: New business models and digital solutions are needed to make rail transport more attractive and efficient
- Cooperation instead of isolation: Only through close cooperation between industry, operators, politics and technology providers can rail transport be established as the backbone of a sustainable mobility system
The future is ours to shape – it is up to us to set the right course now.
Download our Paper here
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Dr. Roman Bauer
