(de-news.net) – Deutsche Bahn has introduced new nationwide schedules, marking a significant adjustment to its long‑distance and regional services. Fourteen additional ‘Sprinter’ connections have been incorporated into the long‑distance network, designed to accelerate travel times by bypassing intermediate stops that traditionally slow journeys. The Berlin–Stuttgart corridor, for instance, now requires only four hours and forty‑five minutes, representing a reduction of more than an hour compared with earlier timetables. Comparable high‑speed services have also been inaugurated on the Berlin–Munich and Hamburg–Frankfurt routes, thereby expanding the reach of rapid intercity travel. At the same time, regional connections with consistently low demand are being discontinued, reflecting a strategic reallocation of resources. In light of persistent delays in long‑distance operations, the company has opted against raising ticket prices in the coming year, a decision intended to maintain public confidence while service reliability remains under scrutiny.
Chief Executive Evelyn Palla, who assumed office merely three months ago, is simultaneously preparing an extensive restructuring of the corporate headquarters. According to supervisory board documents cited by Handelsblatt, the first management tier beneath the executive board is to be reduced from 43 positions to 22, while the five posts of corporate commissioners will be abolished entirely. Palla has articulated a clear objective of substantially downsizing the holding company’s workforce in order to streamline decision‑making and reduce administrative overhead. The restructuring extends into subsidiary boards as well: DB Infrago’s infrastructure board will be limited to six members rather than eight, DB Regio’s board will be cut from six to five, and DB Fernverkehr’s board will shrink from five to four. Collectively, these measures signal a decisive effort to consolidate leadership structures and enhance organizational efficiency across the group.
Meanwhile, an analysis by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, drawing on federal investment reports and Deutsche Bahn data, highlights a striking decline in the commissioning of new rail lines. Over the past decade, fewer routes have been inaugurated than at any time since 1991, the year that marked the advent of the ICE high‑speed era. Since 2016, only 240 kilometers of long‑distance track—primarily intended for ICE operations—have been opened, including 23 kilometers added with the most recent timetable change. By contrast, the period from 2006 to 2015 saw 350 kilometers of new lines, notably the Nürnberg–Ingolstadt and Halle–Erfurt corridors. Between 1996 and 2005, approximately 500 kilometers were completed, including the major Hannover–Berlin and Frankfurt–Cologne projects, while the preceding decade added more than 400 kilometers. The figures illustrate a pronounced slowdown in network expansion despite the government’s declared commitment to a transportation transition and steadily rising investment in rail infrastructure.
Concurrently, Deutsche Bahn has announced plans to acquire approximately 3,000 buses for regional service, the majority of which will be purchased from Munich‑based manufacturer MAN. A smaller fleet of about 200 electric intercity buses will be supplied by the Chinese company BYD from its Hungarian production facility, according to the railway’s statement. The procurement, valued at more than one billion euros, has provoked criticism from political and industry observers. Deliveries are scheduled between 2027 and 2032 under framework contracts with a six‑year duration. The buses, most of which will be electrically powered, are expected to feature passenger USB charging ports and air‑conditioning systems utilizing climate‑neutral refrigerants. Debate has intensified in recent days over the partial order from BYD, with Green Party deputy Konstantin von Notz questioning whether national security considerations were adequately addressed in the decision. Corporate figures indicate that DB Regio’s bus services currently transport more than 1.5 million passengers daily across Germany, underscoring the strategic importance of the new fleet.
