The appointment of Dirk Rompf as the new head of DB Infrago, the infrastructure division of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn, has been abruptly called off. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder expressed regret over Rompf’s withdrawal from the role, acknowledging the challenges the position presented and thanking Rompf for initially accepting.
Rompf, previously a managing director at the strategy consultancy Ifok and a long-standing board member of DB Netz AG, was only officially presented as Philipp Nagl’s successor on Monday. His nomination, however, met with considerable resistance from employee representatives within the company.
The union EVG (Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft) welcomed Rompf’s decision to step aside. EVG chairman Martin Burkert stated that Rompf had drawn the appropriate conclusion from the recent discussions and emphasized the need for a fresh start for Deutsche Bahn, one that doesn’t rely on previous approaches.
Minister Schnieder has outlined a reform agenda aimed at strengthening the rail network and the union expressed willingness to collaborate with the minister. They intend to discuss both the merits of his proposals and areas where further improvement is deemed necessary, ensuring a new leadership structure effectively signals a genuine commitment to modernization within the infrastructure division. Details regarding the next steps in the search for a successor are expected to be announced shortly.