BERLIN — Deutsche Bahn CEO Richard Lutz will leave his post, the German transport ministry announced Thursday, in the biggest leadership shake-up at the state-owned rail operator in years.
Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder said the decision — reached jointly with Lutz and supervisory board chair Werner Gatzer — was part of a broader “structural and personnel realignment” at the company.
Lutz, who has led DB since 2017, will stay in charge until a successor is appointed. It is unclear who will replace him.
The leadership change comes as DB struggles to restore its finances and reputation. In 2024, only 67 percent of its long-distance trains arrived on time, the company reported — the worst performance in over two decades.
The first half of 2025 brought signs of improvement. Operating losses were halved to about €760 million compared to the same period in 2024, and revenue rose 3.4 percent to €13.3 billion.
Government support has been crucial: Berlin injected over €4 billion into DB in March and set up a special infrastructure fund running through 2036. The company is also cutting 10,000 administrative jobs by 2027 and investing billions to modernize the network, including a full overhaul of the busy Berlin–Hamburg line.
Schnieder will present his “Agenda for satisfied rail customers” — a reform blueprint — on Sept. 22. “First the strategy, then the personnel,” he said. “Our concept is in place. Now we need the right person to implement it — thoroughness before speed.”
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