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Germany's Deutsche Bahn must cut off DB Cargo aid after EU probe, state sources

Germany's stateowned Deutsche Bahn will no longer have the ability to financially support its lossmaking freight operator DB Freight as the result of an investigation by EU competition regulators, according to German federal government and supervisory board sources.

The European Union opened an examination into whether German support for DB Freight might have provided it a benefit in 2022 after getting a grievance about the procedures.

An official decision is due in October.

Deutsche Bahn and the European Commission did not right away respond to requests for comment.

According to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung paper, which initially reported the outcome, the aid would need to stop from next year.

The financial scenario of DB Freight is presently challenging and instant steps are inescapable, stated a German government agent.

Under an open-ended revenue and loss transfer contract dating from 2012, Deutsche Bahn covers losses at DB Cargo, which has quickly lost market share in current years and now accounts for less than half of rail freight transport in Germany.

Last year, losses at DB Freight jumped to practically 500 million euros ($556.90 million), two times as bad as expected.

(source: Reuters)