Deutsche Bahn once again lost a loss of billions in 2024. At the same time, punctuality in long -distance transport reached a new historical low. CEO Lutz still earned considerably more.
Deutsche Bahn wrote red numbers again last year. The bottom line was a minus of around 1.8 billion euros in 2024, as the federal group announced. However, that was almost one billion euros less loss than in the previous year.
“In 2024, the economic development of the DB Group was primarily shaped by the poor condition of the infrastructure,” said the company. “The strikes of the GDL train driver union also have a negative impact in the first quarter of 2024 and especially in rail freight transport.”
Punctuality of the train to record low
CEO Richard Lutz sees Deutsche Bahn “in the largest crisis since the rail reform”. “In essential areas, we are far from what we have planned and what our customers expect from us,” said Lutz. The rail network is dilapidated and overloaded. In addition, the punctuality in long -distance transport achieved a historical low with only 62.5 percent last year.
Deutsche Bahn plans to significantly increase punctuality in long -distance transport – to 75 to 80 percent by 2027. This year, the group also wants to re -write the black again this year.
Schenker sales Lasted on the balance sheet
Last year, the railway had a minus of around 333 million euros in the operational result of interest and taxes that were inflation before interest and taxes (EBIT) – after a loss of 2.7 billion euros in the previous year. This was decisive for this compensation payments from the federal government for maintenance measures in the infrastructure of 1.8 billion euros, the state company said.
The fact that the company remained in the red in 2024 despite the repayment of the owner was due to the sale of the former logistics subsidiary DB Schenker to the Danish competitor DSV. The well -running division had previously made up the balance of the parent company with high profits.
DB Cargo again with a high loss
When looking at the individual sectors, the freight daughter DB Cargo stands out negatively once again, it puts it particularly deep in the red numbers. The operational loss here was 357 million euros here last year.
DB Cargo has been writing high losses for years, which is why the EU Commission intervened as a European competition supervision – the state -balanced red figures of the company are considered state aid. The company must now be profitable by the end of 2026, and it is currently being renovated.
In long -distance transport, lower punctuality led to fewer passengers. The operational loss rose from 43 to 96 million euros. It was better – also thanks to the Germany ticket – at the DB Regio, which after a loss last year, a profit in the operating business of 108 million euros.
Railway chief earned around 2.1 million euros
Regardless of the crisis at Deutsche Bahn, CEO Richard Lutz earned considerably more money last year. Including bonus payments, the so -called variable remuneration, the chairwoman of the federal group's board of directors comes to a total of around 2.1 million euros in 2024.
The year before, his income was still around one million euros lower due to a lower fixture and a decreased variable remuneration. The second highest references on the board of directors have the Berthold Huber, which is responsible for infrastructure. He got a total of around 1.4 million euros last year.
