Coal trains are now a priority in Germany

The German government plans to soon give priority to coal trains on the German rail network, rather than passenger trains. With the plan, the government wants to counteract the energy crisis the country is facing, reports the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. The newspaper is based on a bill.

As a rule, the priority is on the German rail network in transporting passengers, and the timetables have been adjusted accordingly. The bill therefore states that the introduction of the plan threatens to create chaos on the tracks.

Germany has fallen into an energy crisis as Russia cut gas supplies to the country ever further since the invasion of Ukraine in February. In response to the Western sanctions against Russia, the Russian state gas company Gazprom has reduced the gas supply to Germany via the important Nord Stream 1 pipeline to 20 percent of capacity. The German government also takes into account that Moscow is completely shutting down the gas tap.

The energy crisis has already caused high inflation in Germany and the country is on the verge of recession. According to Welt am Sonntag, the bill is therefore expected to be passed in the short term so that fuel can be transported by rail as a matter of priority.


The author: Michel DEURINCK

Michel Deurinck, born in Brussels in 1950, started his career in the Belgian civil service, dedicating over 30 years to public service. Upon retirement, he pursued his passion for journalism. Transitioning into this new field, he quickly gained recognition for his insightful reporting on politics and culture. Deurinck's balanced and thoughtful approach to journalism has made him a respected figure in Belgian media.

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