Deutsche Bahn Faces Financial Losses and Leadership Uncertainty

Germany's state-owned railway reports poor 2024 performance as calls grow for CEO Richard Lutz's removal and structural reforms take center stage.

Deutsche Bahn's 2024 financial report reveals continued losses, with significant deficits in both passenger and freight divisions.
Long-distance train punctuality hit a historic low of 62.5% in 2024, exacerbated by aging infrastructure and operational inefficiencies.
CEO Richard Lutz's future is uncertain, as political negotiators from CDU, CSU, and SPD push for leadership changes during ongoing coalition talks.
The German government is exploring reforms to Deutsche Bahn's infrastructure division, proposing further separation within the integrated company model while rejecting a full breakup.
Efforts to modernize the rail network, such as the Riedbahn renovation, have faced cost overruns and failed to deliver expected reliability improvements.