So far, Deutsche Bahn (DB) has been slow to switch to low-emission steel rails or even to purchase any significant shipments. Germany lags behind other European countries such as France, Austria, and Belgium in terms of stable steel purchases for transport infrastructure, said Nadine Artelt, CEO of Saarstal Acoval and Saarstahl Rail.
The latest division of German steelmaker Saarstahl signed a major contract worth 1 billion euros ($1 billion) in February to supply low-emission rails to railway operator SNCF over six years.
A similar deal with Deutsche Bahn is not expected, Callanisch heard from Artelt during a discussion at the Zukunft Stahl conference in Essen in March. Deutsche Bahn has a "huge demand" for rails, which, according to her, is similar to SNCF's demand, and ranges from up to tons per year. "Nevertheless, it was much easier to start negotiations in France and Austria," she said.
Max-Christian Lange, Head of DB's Sustainability Department, acknowledged during the discussion that DB had not taken a decisive step forward in this direction, despite its goal of becoming climate neutral by 2040.
DB's tenders to find suppliers are preceded by negotiations with its main owner, the German state. Lange mentioned that negotiations at this level are sluggish. Thus, in order to find suppliers of low-CO steels, "at the moment, we at DB are still in the position of future supporters of this cause."
The annual production capacity of Saarstahl Rail is tons of steel for the production of various rail profiles, including vignettes, switches, grooved rails and tracks.
