01273nas a2200109   4500008004100000245007000041210006900111260001200180520088300192100001901075856006901094       2014                        eng d00aRailway transport and social-ecological transformation in Germany0 aRailway transport and socialecological transformation in Germany  aLeipzig3 aThis short paper summarizes the development of railway services in Germany in the past two decades, which have been marked by commercialization, increased competition and attempts of privatization. I argue that these policies are misled from a social-ecological perspective and have only modestly performed in terms of shifting passengers and cargo towards railway transportation. The theoretical and empirical economic literature does not show a clear picture, however in my interpretation there are good reasons for public ownership of what are called 'network industries'. Fundamentally, instead of privatization of public transport, a participatory, democratically accountable policy stance is needed, at least for the passenger sector that relies heavily on subsidies. On the way, regional public railway companies and strict social-ecological tendering may be first steps.1 aFauser, Hannes  uhttps://degrowth.community/conference2014/scientific-papers/3674