Late trains
Berlin Limoge The owner of Deutsche Bahn
Richard Lutz leaves his duties prematurely at the head of the German railway company after years of punctuality in free fall.
Richard Lutz, CEO of Deutsche Bahn, leaves the high -speed train Ice 4 “Spree” at the Berlin main station, March 18, 2024.
AFP
The German government announced Thursday the dismissal of the owner of Deutsche Bahn, Richard Lutz, under the fire of criticisms, in particular due to the lack of punctuality of trains.
“We have agreed to put an end prematurely to the contract of the boss of the railways,” announced the German Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder, during a surprise press conference in Berlin. He pointed out the “dramatic” situation of the DB, the lack of satisfaction of users in terms of punctuality and profitability.
The punctuality rate of long-distance trains has fallen for years in Germany. Last year, it only reached 62.5%, compared to 79% in 2016.
Early departure
At the head of the DB since 2017, Richard Lutz, 61 years old, will however remain in office until a successor is found. This is an early departure: his contract was to run until 2027.
The conservative minister had warned that he would make a decision on the future of the management of the public enterprise before the end of the summer, as part of a overhaul of the national rail strategy.
The details of a “reform” of the DB will be disclosed on September 22, announced the minister, at the press conference on Thursday. “If everything happens ideally, we can present the strategy and perhaps also the succession in a relatively short time,” he added. Patrick Schnieder said he was “dissatisfied” with the punctuality of German trains, denounced by users and regularly mocked on social networks.
The association of users of Deutsche Bahn coldly welcomed the announcement of the departure of Richard Lutz. “The situation of the railways will not change by changing the leaders, but only by improving rail policy in Germany and by financing the railways sufficiently,” Karl-Peter Naumann, honorary leader of Pro-Bahn told AFP. “All of the previous transport ministers have in fact more or less failed and strongly contributed to the current situation of the railways,” he added.
Infrastructure dilapidation
The company, 100% owned by the federal state, undergoes the dilapidation of its infrastructure, and a debt it has reduced this summer thanks to the sale of its profitable Schenker logistics.
The group will be able to count until the end of the legislature in 2029 out of 107 billion euros in public aid, including more than 20 billion this year. The large part comes from the 500 billion euros special infrastructure fund adopted in March for the government.
But an additional 17 billion euros would be necessary by 2029, pleaded Richard Lutz, to lead the digitization and modernization of existing infrastructure, without delay.
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