Werner Gatzer, the supervisory board chairman of Deutsche Bahn, is increasing the pressure for the state-owned company’s restructuring. “We no longer have many chances and are lagging behind our own targets” he told the news magazine Focus. “It must now work – reliability, punctuality, infrastructure, and also cost-effectiveness. Even a company like DB must write black numbers” Gatzer said.
This also applies to the goods sector. In response to the question of when Cargo CEO Sigrid Nikutta would deliver, Gatzer said: “Immediately. By 2026, the cargo area must come out of the red numbers.” The EU had recently banned further cross-subsidization of the highly deficit-ridden freight sector. “There is now a clear transformation plan” Gatzer announced. “Every area must be run profitably in the future. The reduction of jobs plays a role in this. The EU Commission’s orders from the aid procedure leave no choice.”
At the same time, the supervisory board chairman defended the recent price increases. He considers the increase in the Germany ticket from 49 to 58 euros to be “adequate and right”. 58 euros are still an “attractive price” Gatzer said. He also finds that “a performance must be adequately remunerated.” Therefore, he had “no understanding” for the initial 9-euro ticket of the government coalition. In response to the sometimes significant increase in normal fares, Gatzer said: “Energy costs, tariff agreements, and the general inflation rate must all be offset.”
Gatzer is also advocating for an infrastructure fund to support the restructuring of the state-owned company. “At least 150 billion for the next ten years for investments, I consider a minimum requirement” he told Focus. He is aware “that this means additional debt, but this would be bearable with a declining debt ratio of 63 percent and would not put Germany at risk as a safe haven for investors.” Moreover, the “preconditions must be created to enable faster investment.