Overview

• Evelyn Palla, head of DB Regio, has been proposed by Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder to succeed Richard Lutz, according to government sources cited by multiple outlets including dpa.
• Schnieder signaled a candidate is in place but said legal constraints may delay a public presentation on Monday, when he plans to outline a new owner strategy.
• The ministry’s plan, titled “Agenda für zufriedene Kunden auf der Schiene,” is expected to tighten federal oversight and increase the independence of infrastructure unit DB InfraGo.
• Palla would be the first woman to run Deutsche Bahn and arrives with a track record of returning DB Regio to profit, reporting an operating gain of €103 million in the first half of 2025.
• The leadership change comes as long‑distance punctuality hovered near 60% in August and the group posted a €760 million first‑half loss, with parties such as the Greens urging stable infrastructure financing and lower track charges to enable improvements.