The German Federal Cartel Office (BKartA) has joined the call for German state railway DB to be split into one company for managing the railway network and one company for operating rail transport services. According to BKartA, DB currently has many subtle ways of hindering competition. In addition, BKartA is currently in dispute with DB over competition issues. These include transport data on delays and train cancellations, which are withheld from third-party providers, and how to deal with mobility platforms that sell tickets. The German federal government's decision to create a public-interest infrastructure company InfraGo within the group is only a first step, according to BKartA. In July 2023, the Monopolies Commission had already stated in a report that the federal government's reform package did not go far enough. The mere merger of DB Netz and DB Station&Service is reportedly an inadequate measure. Instead, attention should be paid to the competitive organisation of the planned InfraGo subsidiary.
