The train drivers' union (GDL) has called for the dismissal of Deutsche Bahn CEO Richard Lutz. "I have no problem with him personally; he's fair in his dealings and, especially as a financial expert, is well-versed in the subject," GDL chairman Mario Reiß told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung" (FAS). "But he's not the kind of Deutsche Bahn board member we urgently need for the current situation, nor is he a restructuring expert."
Lutz "played a key role in bringing the railway to where it is today," Reiss told FAS. "He should be replaced." Since the coalition agreement was announced, there has been speculation about Lutz's replacement. The agreement mentioned a personnel reorganization at Deutsche Bahn (DB).
DB's deputy supervisory board chairman, Martin Burkert, also avoided publicly supporting Lutz. "The selection of the railway's management is a matter for the owner," Burkert, who is also chairman of the railway union EVG, told the newspaper. "The minister must decide which board members he can work with in a trusting manner."
The coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD states: "Both at the DB Group and at InfraGO, a restructuring of the supervisory board and management board is to take place, with the goal of reflecting more expertise and achieving streamlining." Burkert said that the supervisory board "does not lack expertise. This suggestion annoys us."
Lutz, for his part, admitted mistakes in an interview with "FAS": "I should have made it clearer a few years ago that the budget for rail is not sufficient to do everything that is necessary." At the same time, a few days before the DB announced its half-year figures, the CEO of Deutsche Bahn reported an improvement in the company's profitability.
"We made better progress than expected in terms of profitability in the first half of the year because we got costs under control," he said. According to further information from the railway, the number of speed-restricted sections has also decreased faster than planned, and more signal boxes have been modernized than anticipated. However, punctuality has not improved. "Punctuality is unacceptable," Lutz continued.
Regarding the discussion about his professional future, the head of Deutsche Bahn said that he would not allow himself to be "distracted by the debate about me (...), I have a task and I am devoting my full attention to it."
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