The track access charge subsidy has been cut by at least €120 million this year, despite renegotiations of the 2024 federal budget.
As already indicated in our previous letter of 10 January 2024, due to this unwelcomedevelopment we now see ourselves forced to pass on to the market the additional costs thatwill arise, in the form of an infrastructure surcharge. The Infrastructure Rail Surcharge (IRS)will be levied from 1 March 2024 on the agreed freight rates. We reserve the right to make areassessment during the year and adjust the IRS in the course of the year if necessary.
The following surcharges will apply for the individual products from 1 March 2024:
| Connection (to/from) | Product | Surcharge |
| Basel / Weil am Rhein – Rotterdam | BWS | 8,00 € / TEU |
| Basel / Weil am Rhein – Antwerpen | ATE | 8,00 € / TEU |
| Basel / Weil am Rhein – Hamburg / Bremerhaven / Wilhelmshaven | HTE | 9,00 € / TEU |
| Wörth – Rotterdam | WME | 6,00 € / TEU |
| Mannheim – Rotterdam | MWME | 6,00 € / TEU |
| Mannheim – Hamburg / Bremerhaven / Wilhelmshaven | MNS | 12,00 € / TEU |
| Frankfurt West – Antwerpen | FAS | 5,00 € / TEU |
| Frankfurt West – Rotterdam | FRS | 5,00 € / TEU |
| Frankfurt Ost – Hamburg / Wilhelmshaven | FNS | 12,00 € / TEU |
| Neuss – Rotterdam | NME | 2,50 € / TEU |
| Duisburg – Wilhelmshaven | DWS | 4,00 € / TEU |
| Hof & Wiesau – Hamburg / Bremerhaven | HWNS | 8,00 € / TEU |
| Hof – Wilhelmshaven | HWS | 9,00 € / TEU |
We would also like to inform you that other surcharges related to this aspect that are leviedby third-party suppliers in connection with bookings will be passed on by us accordingly.
We thank you for your understanding, and if you have any questions we will be pleased to help you.