Rail chaos on the German corner: Why the trains don't get progress!

Rail chaos on the German corner: Why the trains don't get progress!

A nightmare for travelers! The train from Innsbruck to Vienna becomes a game of patience if you have to go through the notorious German corner - the connection between Salzburg and Kufstein via Rosenheim. It is a vital traffic artery for the Austrians, while the Germans dismiss it as a side track. Curvig, poorly expanded and with constant delays - the journey becomes a game of patience. The ÖBB boss Andreas Matthä recognized it: "I understand them."

In the last week during the Austrian autumn holidays, the route was even completely closed! An absolute no-go for travelers. Instead, passengers had to travel by bus from Salzburg to Innsbruck. And while the Austrians are annoyed, Deutsche Bahn is very interested in this. The rail connections in Europe are chaos! Hardly any traveler can escape the frustration if you have to upgrade the trains at the border because each country has its own regulations.

The roots of the problem

Why is that? The roots go back to the 19th century, as countries deliberately introduced different technical systems in order to make a invasion of the war. Today these differences are still an obstacle. The top railway company in Europe, Josef Doppelbauer, even has to take a taxi to the next train connection to Brussels because the tracks are simply missing! A scandal! It has long been calling for a uniform solution for rail traffic, similar to the EuroControl for air traffic.

The planning of the route on the German corner began in 1851, but only 132 years later an urgently needed loop was opened. The Austrians have borne the costs, while Bayern hardly showed interest. Such delays are in the standard of railway history. The travelers must continue to prepare for uncertain trips, while the rail connections in Europe remain a tragedy.