Overview
- An internal Oliver Wyman assessment says DB Cargo’s restructuring is not objectively suitable to secure sustainable profitability and competitiveness, citing overly optimistic assumptions and insufficiently concrete measures.
- Cargo’s plan centers on cutting staff from about 19,000 to 10,000, closing workshops, and selling rolling stock, yet single-wagon traffic remains loss-making despite federal support.
- Deutsche Bahn commissioned the review and has not commented publicly, and the consultants reportedly proposed considering an external Chief Restructuring Officer.
- The EVG union has demanded Sigrid Nikutta’s removal, pointing to more than €3.1 billion in losses since 2020 and criticizing asset sales and layoffs.
- DB’s personnel committee backed Karin Dohm as CFO and Harmen van Zijderveld to lead DB Regio, with supervisory board decisions expected at an Oct. 30 meeting that could also address leadership at Cargo as EU rules end parental bailouts and require profits next year.