The study quantifies the economic contribution of investments in Germany’s rail‑based public transport system, distinguishing between vehicle purchases and infrastructure spending. Using the INFRA S EIOBRA1 model, the analysis incorporates official input‑output tables, sectoral productivity figures, and import intensity data from Destatis (2024a, 2024b) and INFRAS. Direct effects are measured by the gross value added and employment generated by the manufacturers of rail vehicles and infrastructure components, while indirect effects capture the value added and jobs created by suppliers of intermediate goods and services. The methodology follows the framework developed for the larger German rail sector study, ensuring comparability of results.

Vehicle investments, which include trams, subways (including elevated and monorail lines) and overhead buses, account for 43 % of total rail‑sector spending. The weighted value‑added share for vehicle production is 24 %, with an import intensity of 28 %. Productivity per full‑time equivalent worker in this sector is estimated at €67,500. Track infrastructure, comprising rails and related civil works, represents 25 % of spending and yields a 45 % value‑added share, 16 % import intensity, and €85,000 productivity per worker. Power‑supply installations, such as electrification systems, also contribute 45 % to value added, 17 % to import intensity, and €85,500 per worker. Tunnel and high‑speed line construction, making up 13 % of the budget, achieves a 48 % value‑added share, 11 % import intensity, and €90,000 per worker. Finally, buildings—including workshops and maintenance depots—constitute 13 % of the investment, with a 36 % value‑added share, 12 % import intensity, and €98,000 per worker.

The investment data span 2017 to 2023, with annual totals ranging from €1.735 billion in 2018 to €2.263 billion in 2022, averaging €1.966 billion. These figures reflect the combined spending on vehicles and all infrastructure categories. The analysis demonstrates that rail‑based public transport investments generate substantial direct output and employment, while the indirect supply‑chain effects further amplify the economic impact across multiple sectors.

The project is part of a broader initiative on the economic significance of the German rail sector, coordinated by the German Center for Railway Research. It involves collaboration between INFRAS, the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), and statistical authorities such as Destatis. The study was conducted in 2024, drawing on the most recent 2021 statistical releases. Funding for the research comes from national transport and infrastructure programmes, supporting the assessment of public transport’s role in Germany’s economy. The findings provide policymakers with detailed sectoral insights, enabling informed decisions on future rail investment priorities.