His removing or dismissal from a position or group hasn't yet been decided on as a tactic.
The future of Germany's railways, particularly on the Rhine and Ruhr, is shrouded in uncertainty following the dismissal of rail chief Richard Lutz by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder. The reason for Lutz's premature departure remains unclear, as no successor has been presented yet.
The railway's infrastructure is in dire need of renovation, a fact that is not lost on passengers who are familiar with U-turns and delays, colloquially known as the "Pofalla turnaround" - a delayed train making a wide turn far from reaching the final station, in order to at least start on time in the opposite direction.
The current situation does not bode well for the future of the railways on the Rhine and Ruhr. The government's plan to shift costs for network renovation and expansion into a special fund, while cutting the regular annual budget, has not alleviated the financial burdens.
Schnieder has largely turned away from the idea and concept of the transport turnaround in the ministry, but a dismissal is not a strategy. Without a clear plan for the future of the railways, the lack of a successor for Lutz only adds to the uncertainty.
Given the complex situation at Deutsche Bahn, there is no clear frontrunner for the CEO position. However, several candidates have been mentioned or proposed. Anna-Theresa Korbutt, the CEO of the Hamburg Transport Association (HVV), has been proposed by the passenger association Pro Bahn. Korbutt is noted for her experience in the transportation sector and her willingness to challenge status quo, which could be beneficial in addressing the systemic issues at Deutsche Bahn.
Other candidates include Michael Peter, the CEO of Siemens Mobility, and Evelyn Palla, who leads regional transport at Deutsche Bahn. Andreas Mattha, the head of Austrian Federal Railways, and Peter Fuglistaler, a former chief of the Swiss Federal Office of Transport, were also considered, although they have declined offers.
The balancing act between improving punctuality and renovating infrastructure is open, and the future of the railway's finances appears uncertain due to the gathering dark clouds. Schnieder aims to present a new strategy by September 22, but until then, Richard Lutz remains on call, disempowered, waiting for a competent successor to take over.
The ongoing political debate surrounding policy-and-legislation for Germany's railway infrastructure, particularly in the Rhine and Ruhr regions, has intensified due to the unclear future of rail management following Richard Lutz's dismissal. meantime, politics has become heavily involved in the selection of Lutz's successor, with general-news outlets closely monitoring the developments in policy-and-legislation.
