Evelyn Palla, who has been chair of the company’s executive board since early October, is treating her announced recovery plan with seriousness.
According to a “Focus” report, she revealed at the company’s New Year’s reception in Berlin on Monday evening that she intends to reduce annual costs by €500 million.
Just a few days earlier, Werner Gatzer, the chairman of the supervisory board, announced that roughly one in three managerial positions at the headquarters would be eliminated.
Simultaneously, the company plans to launch a €50 million “Immediate Programme for Safety and Cleanliness at the Stations” this year. The initiative was unveiled yesterday by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) in Remagen.
Train punctuality, however, is unlikely to provide an immediate boost.
In 2026 the number of construction sites across the rail network is expected to rise again, from 24,000 to 26,000.