Skip next section Deutsche Bahn: Punctuality goal set at 70%, minister calls for patience
09/22/2025September 22, 2025
Deutsche Bahn: Punctuality goal set at 70%, minister calls for patience
Germany’s long-distance trains have been set a short-term punctuality goal of at least 70% by 2029, increasing to 80% in the medium term and eventually over 90%, Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) announced on Monday, speaking of a “realistic target.”
Currently, only around 60% of long-distance ICE, IC and EC trains operated by arrive at their destinations “on time” — classified as having less than six minutes’ delay.
By way of comparison, 81% of long-distance trains in neighboring arrived on time in 2024, 83% in the , 87% in , 91% in , 96% in and 99% in — although only France is comparable to Germany in terms of size. German regional trains already have a punctuality rate of 90%.
Speaking at a press conference at which he also officially presented new Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla (see below), Schnieder warned that improvements would not happen overnight. However, he said that money from the €500 billion ($588 billion) special fund recently made available by the German government for general infrastructure investments would flow into the railway.
€10 billion alone have been earmarked for digitalization by 2029. Investment in security and cleanliness at stations is to begin in the first quarter of 2026, and customer service and communications are expected to improve by 2027 at the latest, the minister said.
https://p.dw.com/p/50rrP
Skip next section Confirmed: Evelyn Palla named new Deutsche Bahn CEO
09/22/2025September 22, 2025
Confirmed: Evelyn Palla named new Deutsche Bahn CEO
As expected, Evelyn Palla has been named chief executive of the German rail operator .
The 52-year-old Italian national from the largely German-speaking Alpine region of South Tyrol succeeds Richard Lutz, who was dismissed last month amid mounting reliability and infrastructural issues with Germany’s state-owned railway.
Previously, Palla headed up DB Regio, the DB subsidiary that oversees the network’s numerous regional operators across Germany and also in neighboring countries.
Ahead of Palla’s appointment, which had been widely reported over the weekend, Germany’s train drivers’ union (GDL) and the passenger advocacy group “Pro Bahn” had welcomed the move.
“Our list of potential internal candidates was short but Frau Palla was on it,” said Pro Bahn chairman Detlef Neuß, praising Palla’s work at DB Region and calling her “an absolutely suitable CEO.”
GDL boss Mario Reiss called Palla “an experienced manager,” adding: “It’s an encouraging signal that somebody who has a close eye on punctuality figures and passenger statistics both from the outside and the inside is taking responsibility.”
https://p.dw.com/p/50rhv
Skip next section Public transportation use still increasing in Germany, but at slower rate
09/22/2025September 22, 2025
Public transportation use still increasing in Germany, but at slower rate
Despite the well-documented issues with punctuality and reliability, the number of Germans using public transportation continued to increase in 2025, albeit at a slower rate than before.
According to data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Germans made around 5.7 billion journeys on public transportation in the first half of this year, a 1% increase on the same period in 2024.
Use of long-distance trains increased by 4% to 71 million trips, though strikes during the same period last year make direct comparisons less reliable.
But while the numbers are still increasing, the initial boom following the introduction of the nationwide appears to be ebbing off.
Introduced in May 2023, the Deutschlandticket is valid for travel on all buses, trams and regional trains (but not long-distance ICE, IC or EC trains) across the entire country, originally for €49 per month but .
Around 14 million people currently have a Deutschlandticket but, with the , travel and consumer groups are concerned that more passengers could return to their cars.
https://p.dw.com/p/50rg1
Skip next section Deutsche Bahn: Transport Minister to present new strategy and CEO
09/22/2025September 22, 2025
Deutsche Bahn: Transport Minister to present new strategy and CEO
German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder () is set to unveil his strategy for the future of ‘s much maligned rail operator — including the presentation of its new chief executive.
After in August, Schnieder said the situation at the state-owned conglomerate was “dramatic.”
He said German trains had to be “more punctual, more secure and cleaner” and that as DB as a company had to be “quicker, leaner, more powerful and economically more productive.”
According to widespread German media reports, Lutz’s successor has already been identified: DB regional chief Evelyn Palla is set to become the railway’s first female chief executive.
https://p.dw.com/p/50rUi
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage09/22/2025September 22, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Guten Morgen! Welcome to DW’s coverage of what is talking about on Monday, September 22.
Germany’s much-maligned rail operator is set to unveil its new chief executive, with local media reporting that Evelyn Palla is set to become the state-owned company’s first female boss.
Later, German President will be at the Vatican for a private audience with .
https://p.dw.com/p/50rUN
The post Germany updates: Deutsche Bahn presents new CEO appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
