New leadership at the railways announced
Deutsche Bahn, Germany's state-owned railway, is set to undergo significant changes as a new CEO and a new strategy are set to be announced next week.
The previous CEO, Richard Lutz, has been unable to manage the company's crises effectively, leading to a comprehensive restructuring within the organization. The formal decision on the CEO position will be made by Deutsche Bahn's supervisory board on Tuesday, with the announcement possibly happening on Monday.
The likely candidate for the new CEO position, who may be announced on Monday, is Evelyn Palla, the head of DB Regio. This internal solution is pending supervisory board approval. The identity of other candidates, if any, has not been made public.
The new strategy for Deutsche Bahn, titled "Agenda for satisfied customers on the rails," is expected to be presented on Monday. The strategy aims to focus on a more customer-centric approach, with a greater emphasis on staff in direct contact with passengers on trains and at stations.
The federal government intends to keep Deutsche Bahn more closely under its control and steer it better in the future, focusing on the infrastructure division DB InfraGo. This division is expected to become more independent from the group.
Passengers have been suffering from increasingly poor punctuality in long-distance traffic due to dilapidated and overloaded rail infrastructure. Necessary construction work often leads to months of restrictions, and regional trains are often very crowded.
Trade unions are calling for a more customer-focused approach, including the preservation of travel centers and ticket machines despite digitization. They have also warned about rising ticket prices and a reduction in connections, even in long-distance traffic.
Many transport associations are reducing their services due to rising costs and insufficient funding. Martin Burkert, head of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG), has expressed concerns about these developments.
Several unsolicited applications have been received for the vacant CEO position. The details of how DB InfraGo's independence will be achieved and Schnieder's specific expectations for the railway remain unclear.
As Deutsche Bahn embarks on this new chapter, it is hoped that the changes will lead to improved services for passengers and a more efficient railway system for Germany.
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