Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla announced plans to divest from any business holdings that are deemed unprofitable or do not constitute a core element of the railway’s primary operations. According to Palla’s statement to the “Stern” focusing on the railway journey itself is the key strategic imperative. Consequently, peripheral ventures, such as services for the “first and last mile” will only be pursued by Deutsche Bahn if they generate revenue. This profit criterion means that various current offerings, such as bike rentals (Call-a-bike) or car sharing (Flinkster), are now subject to thorough review. While Palla did not specify which existing operations would be retained or dropped, she emphasized that any area currently showing losses must soon become a profit center.
The DB Group currently manages a portfolio comprising over 500 subsidiaries listed in its balance sheets, many of which are located internationally. The company has already undertaken significant divestments in the past year, selling its highly profitable logistics subsidiary, DB Schenker, which handled transport primarily via trucks. Furthermore, the state-owned company separated from Arriva, an international passenger transport firm that managed bus or regional routes in countries like the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands. These moves were driven by strategic considerations, but also helped reduce the group’s overall debt load through the resulting sales revenues.
In the near future, the DB Group is also determined to exit large-scale rail projects abroad, including those in India and Uruguay, which are currently managed by the subsidiary DB E.C.O. Group. Palla confirmed this strategic retreat by stating that the group expects to discontinue involvement in this business segment in the medium term.