GERMANY: The search is underway for a new Deutsche Bahn Chief Executive, after federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder announced that incumbent Richard Lutz will finish his term early. Lutz had been expected to continue until 2027 but will now carry on only until a replacement is found.
Previously management board member for finance, Lutz has been CEO since 2017. He joined DB in 1994, the year the new organisation took over from its state railway predecessors Deutsche Bundesbahn and Deutsche Reichsbahn.
Schnieder said a new CEO would ideally be found before the government unveils reforms and a new strategy for DB on September 22. He described DB’s current situation as ‘dramatic’; the company lost €760m in the first six months of 2025, and has achieved long-distance punctuality of under 65% in recent months.
Germany’s monopoly commission has already recommended greater financial and organisational separation of DB’s infrastructure organisation DB InfraGO.
Federal plans for 2025-29 include spending €106·5bn on railway infrastructure; major work includes the closure for rebuilding of the Berlin – Hamburg main line from August until April 2026.
