Germany's Federal Minister of Transport, Patrick Schnieder (CDU), has confirmed a significant leadership shift at Deutsche Bahn (DB) as part of a new strategy for the country's rail network. The changes signal a fresh approach aimed at improving reliability and steering the company toward a more stable future. With both the top leadership and key operational targets being reset, the rail operator is entering a new phase of development.
German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) has confirmed the nomination of Evelyn Palla as the new CEO of Deutsche Bahn. Palla, currently heading the Bahn subsidiary DB Regio, will succeed Richard Lutz, Schnieder announced on Monday during the presentation of his railway strategy.
In addition to Palla’s appointment, a leadership change is planned for the infrastructure division Infrago. Dirk Rompf is set to replace Philipp Nagl. Schnieder clarified that these personnel decisions still require approval from the responsible governing bodies. He explained that both internal and external candidates were thoroughly evaluated during the selection process, but the decision was clear: “Frau Evelyn Palla is the best candidate. She brings everything needed to steer the company back onto a successful path.”
Schnieder highlighted Palla’s extensive experience within Deutsche Bahn, having led DB Regio since 2022. He also emphasized her external expertise, notably her tenure on the board of the Austrian Federal Railways, which is often cited as a model for successful railway management. Rompf, currently working for the U.S. consulting firm Cadmus and serving on the board of Ifok GmbH, has prior experience at Infrago from 2014 to 2019, including roles in network planning and major projects.
Parallel to the leadership announcements, Minister Schnieder unveiled a new timeline for Deutsche Bahn's punctuality targets. Acknowledging that the previous goals were "not nearly achievable," Schnieder has adjusted the targets, pushing them back by several years. The new objective is for at least 70 percent of long-distance trains to be punctual by 2029. This new timeline is in stark contrast to the previous plan, which aimed for a punctuality corridor of 75 to 80 percent by 2027.
Schnieder explained that the new goal is "ambitious" due to the extensive construction work planned for the rail network in the coming years. While emphasizing that reliability is the core of his strategy and punctuality is a key factor, he also stressed the need for realistic expectations. He described the current situation as "more than difficult" and acknowledged that improving it is a challenging task. In the first half of the year, long-distance train punctuality stood at 63.4 percent, with a significant drop to 56.1 percent in July and 59.6 percent in August, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead for the new leadership team.
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