Richard Lutzthe boss of Deutsche Bahn (DB)is being pushed out because of recurring problems with punctuality of the German rail company's trains. The company has come under fire not only from users, but also from the German government, which has opted for this radical decision despite the fact that the head of the company, appointed in 2017, had not reached the end of his term of office. However, Richard Lutz will remain in his post until a successor is found.
2024 worst year for punctuality
The head of Germany's equivalent of SNCF is paying for DB's repeated delays with a punctuality for long-distance trains (ICE and IC), which fell to 62.5% in 2024 compared with 79% in 2016, a score that was already unsatisfactory. 80% of these delays are attributable to the obsolescence of the German rail network, with 23% of track and 26% of points in poor condition in 2023, according to a DB report. This lack of maintenance could be the cause of the derailment of a regional train on 28 July, which killed 3 people and injured 41 others in Baden-Württemberg.
Investments and renovations already underway
The German government is due to unveil the 22 September The French Prime Minister has announced a new plan to support rail infrastructure. The French government has already pledged to provide €20 billion this year (after €17 billion in 2024) as part of a total budget of €1 billion. 107 billion to be spent by 2029 500 billion special fund dedicated to transport infrastructure. DB has launched a project to renovate the tracks on around forty of its busiest corridors between now and 2030.
