XL. The stipulations in the Zollverein Treaty of July 8, 1867, remain in force in so far as they have not been altered by the provisions of this Constitution, and so long as they are not altered in the way pointed out in Article VII, or Article LXXVITJ.
VIII—Railway Affairs.
XLI. Railways which are considered necessary for the defence of Germany, or for the sake of the common intercourse, may, by virtue of an Imperial law, even against the opposition of the members of the Confederation whose territory is intersected by the railways, but without prejudice to the prerogatives of the country, be constructed on account of the empire, or concessions to execute the works may be granted to private contractors, with the right of expropriation.
Every existing railway board of direction is bound to consent to the junction of newly constructed railways at the expense of the latter.
The legal enactments which have granted a right of denial to existing railway undertakings against the construction of parallel or competing lines are hereby, without prejudice to rights already gained, repealed for the entire empire. Nor can such a right of denial be ever granted again in concessions to be issued hereafter.
XLII. The Governments of the Confederation bind themselves to manage the German railways as a uniform network in the interest of the common intercourse, and likewise for this purpose to have all new railways which are to be made, constructed and fitted up according to uniform rules.
XLIII. For this purpose corresponding working arrangements are to be adopted with all possible dispatch, particularly with regard to railway police regulations. The Empire has likewise to take heed that the railway boards keep the lines at all times in such a state of repair as to insure safety, and that they provide them with the working material necessary for the traffic.
XLIV. The railway boards are bound to introduce the necessary passenger trains of the proper speed for the through traffic, and for the arrangement of corresponding journeys, also the requisite trains to provide for the goods traffic; likewise to arrange direct expeditions for passengers and goods traffic, with permission for conveying the means of transport from one line to the other for the usual payments.
XLV. The Empire exercises the control over the tariffs, and will especially operate to the end:
1. That working regulations, in conformity with each other, be introduced as soon as possible on all German railroads;
