Overview

• Palla, currently head of DB Regio, was put forward by Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder to succeed Richard Lutz and would be the first woman to lead the rail group if confirmed.
• Schnieder’s strategy lowers long‑distance punctuality goals to at least 70% by end‑2029, with 80% medium‑term and 90% long‑term, after he called prior internal targets unrealistic.
• The ‘Agenda for satisfied customers’ launches three short‑term programs from 2026 to improve station safety and cleanliness, upgrade DB Navigator communications, and raise onboard comfort and catering.
• Governance changes include shrinking the DB and InfraGo boards to a maximum of six members, reviewing InfraGo’s control agreement for greater autonomy, and tying executive bonuses more closely to reliability and customer satisfaction.
• The plan pairs a corridor‑by‑corridor renovation through 2036 and reported investments exceeding €100 billion to 2029 with a proposed switch at InfraGo to Dirk Rompf, a move opposed by the EVG, which says it will vote against Palla in protest.