Overview

• Schnieder set a late-summer 2025 deadline to present a full strategy for overhauling Deutsche Bahn’s operations.
• He argued that replacing CEO Richard Lutz alone would be insufficient to resolve the rail operator’s longstanding service failures.
• The coalition agreement requires reshaping the executive board and supervisory board along with DB InfraGO to enhance technical expertise and streamline decision-making.
• Persistent track decay and network congestion have driven record train delays and multimillion-euro losses, prompting major line renovations across more than 40 busy routes.
• The transport minister signaled openness to extending renovation timelines based on feasibility and passenger impact, marking a shift from current schedules.