Overview

• The transport minister plans to present a new strategy for the state rail group on 22 September and aims to unveil a successor to Richard Lutz the same day.
• After ending Lutz’s contract early, Schnieder says there are sufficient candidates and that the choice will be based solely on qualifications, not gender.
• He underscores DB’s core problems of heavy debt, a dilapidated network and poor reliability, noting that in July more than half of long‑distance trains arrived late.
• The Deutschlandticket is set to continue next year with €1.5 billion from the federal government and €1.5 billion from the Länder, with a working group addressing potential cost overruns and only limited price increases possible before 2029.
• Beyond rail, the ministry is preparing simplified procurement from 2026 to bundle autobahn bridge works, targeting extensive upkeep across modes with €166 billion and adapting waterways for more freight during low‑water periods.