CURRENT PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT POLICIES FROM THE FEDERAL GERMAN MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT'S POINT OF VIEW

In spite of some regional successes in public transport (underground and surface rapid transport systems) their level of service is retrograde despite increasing state subsidies. Above average population reductions in the heavily populated areas and a further increase in the importance of private vehicular traffic will strengthen this development further in future. It is intended to make public transport services offered more suited to needs and requirements by a package of measures (investments, a regulations policy, new technical developments). An extension of the financial promotion framework should also assist, together with an increased co-operation to a far greater extent than before from the public transport companies, within the framework of transport combines. Using new models for structure organisation a stronger integration and regional concentration of the responsibilities of public transport can be assured. Partial conversion of uneconomical German Federal Railways public transport routes to bus transport often fails on account of individual self interests. This is substantiated by regional traffic associations which have already been founded using combined bus services by the railways and post office. (TRRL)