Audit office criticizes transport ministry for missing targets

The Federal Audit Office accuses the transport ministry under Patrick Schnieder of failing to meet traffic turnaround targets even approximately. The ministry has not adjusted its master plans.

The Federal Audit Office has sharply criticized the Federal Transport Ministry in a report titled “Shifting traffic to rail and waterways is not succeeding for the BMV”. The ministry led by Patrick Schnieder (CDU) will not meet its own targets, neither in the medium nor long term.

According to the master plans, rail is to account for a quarter of freight transport by 2030, with twelve percent shifted to waterways. Passenger transport on rail is to double by then.

The ministry confirmed that the targets are unlikely to be met and pointed to factors such as economic development. The audit office rejected this argument and noted that such factors are already included in the forecasts. It called for a change of course to still reach the target values.

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