[zeeZ]

I've been told that since the privatization, the funding was split between DB paying for maintenance while the state provided funds for replacement and new lines. Allegedly this provided an incentive to let things deteriorate until they needed replacement.

Projects are planned, coordinated and funds allocated far in advance, so if the government can't agree on a budget and projects are shelved or canned, restarting the process causes a significant delay.

[lysace]

To clarify: Deutsche Bahn is still 100% government owned. It operates both its train service and the railroad infrastructure in fully owned subsidiaries.

[usrusr]

And that's exactly what's not reflected in management success metrics. They are basically incentivized to steal from their owners through systematic neglect, what could possibly go wrong.

[FeepingCreature]

I think it's only possible to understand German politics in two ways: either nobody in politics understands incentives, or they understand incentives much better than the voters and are fully exploiting this fact.

[usrusr]

No need to place it anywhere on the incompetence/malice spectrum when it can be perfectly occamed with design by committee.

[troupo]

Same situation in Sweden.

It's a running joke in Stockholm that tracks, trains, signals, and people are owned/employed by 4 different entities