Who assumes control at the railroad?
Deutsche Bahn, Germany's state-owned railway company, is on the brink of a significant change as a new CEO is set to take the helm. However, legal restrictions prevent the immediate disclosure of the candidate.
The federal government aims to tighten its grip on Deutsche Bahn and improve its management in the future. One of the potential candidates under consideration is Michael Peter, the current Chief of Siemens Mobility. Other names mentioned include Martin Seidenberg, Evelyn Palla, and Anna-Theresa Korbutt, although no final decision has been publicly confirmed yet.
The previous CEO, Richard Lutz, was dismissed as part of a comprehensive restructuring of the company. The strategy for the new leadership focuses on improving the experience of passengers on trains, with a title for the new strategy being "Agenda for Satisfied Customers on the Rails" as announced by Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder (CDU).
The supervisory board is scheduled to meet next on Tuesday to make a formal decision. Meanwhile, trade unions have been vocal about their demands for a more customer-focused approach. They advocate for more staff in direct contact with passengers on trains and at stations, as well as the preservation of travel centers and ticket machines to prevent them from becoming casualties of digitization.
Rising costs and insufficient funding have led more and more transport associations to reduce their offerings. This situation has been exacerbated by construction work that often leads to months-long restrictions, causing regional trains to be very crowded. Martin Burkert, head of the railway and transport union (EVG), has warned about rising ticket prices and a reduction in connections, even in long-distance traffic.
Joerg Kukies, a former short-term SPD finance minister, has already declined the position. Several unsolicited applications have been received for the vacant position of Bahn CEO, but the identity of the applicants remains unknown.
As the decision approaches, passengers continue to suffer from poor punctuality in long-distance traffic due to dilapidated and overloaded rail infrastructure. The federal chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU), and the vice-chancellor, Lars Klingbeil (SPD), are both involved in the decision-making process.
The future of Deutsche Bahn hangs in the balance as the public waits for the announcement of the new CEO. The company's direction and the experiences of its passengers will depend on the decision made by the supervisory board next Tuesday.
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