When the corona crisis began, people stayed at home – and Deutsche Bahn’s trains were almost empty. Even if more people are now traveling again, Bahn boss Lutz no longer believes in a miracle. The pandemic tears unprecedented holes in the consolidated balance sheet.
From the point of view of CEO Richard Lutz, Deutsche Bahn employees have to prepare for difficult times despite the gradually recovering passenger numbers. “In terms of operations, we have been in the loss zone with the railways in Germany since March, in the hundreds of millions every month,” Lutz wrote in an internal letter to the staff at dpa. “Despite the expected and hoped-for recovery, this will remain the case until the end of the year and will result in the largest operating loss in DB’s history in the current financial year.”
The pandemic had hit all business areas hard. The billions needed would not come from the federal government alone as the owner. “We all have a word and a responsibility.” Employees should also be part of the solution, writes Lutz. In view of the billion-dollar losses from the Corona crisis, the federal government had pledged to subsidize 5.5 to 6.7 billion euros in the railways. In addition, the debt limit is to be raised so that the Group can take on additional liabilities.
But the group itself must also save – around two billion euros in personnel alone by 2024. However, Deutsche Bahn intends to maintain the planned new hires and investments in the “Strong Rail” strategy. “It was explicitly agreed that our employees get perspective, security and stability for their workplaces,” emphasized Lutz again in the internal letter.
Discussions are currently underway with the EVG union on how the savings should come about instead. The railways are therefore aiming to start official negotiations this week. “We hope to be able to inform you promptly about encouraging results,” writes Lutz.
– .
