CDU leader Friedrich Merz has called for a reduction in Deutsche Bahn's services to improve reliability, sparking criticism from the Green Party.

Merz argued that the national railway is 'structurally overwhelmed' and needs to decrease its offerings to ensure better performance.

However, Green Party co-leader Omid Nouripour strongly opposed this idea, stating it would primarily affect rural areas.

Nouripour emphasized that while the railway's delays and cancellations are frustrating, the solution lies in providing necessary funding rather than reducing services.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bahn is set to begin a major renovation of the Frankfurt-Mannheim route, marking the start of a broader initiative to modernize Germany's rail network by 2031.