Deutsche Bahn boss sacked amid chronic delays and infrastructure issues

The German government has fired Deutsche Bahn boss Richard Lutz as chronic delays and infrastructure issues continue at the state-owned railway service. What does the decision mean for passengers?

Schnieder fires Bahn boss Lutz

German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) has dismissed Deutsche Bahn boss Richard Lutz from his role. Previously Deutsche Bahn’s finance director, Lutz was hired for the company’s top position in 2017 and held a contract until 2027, but will now leave as soon as his replacement is found.

"I thank Dr. Lutz for his efforts in difficult times," Schnieder said in his announcement. “I am sure that he will continue to do all he can for the railway in his remaining weeks.”

In a press release, the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) welcomed the news of Lutz’s departure, calling the decision an “important sign of the capacity to act and ministers’ clear will to confront acute problems at DB”. 

“Mr Lutz’s dismissal was a necessary consequence of years of mismanagement, which led Deutsche Bahn deeper into crisis,” GDL federal representative Mario Reiß added.

What does the news mean for Deutsche Bahn passengers?

Though the specific reason for Lutz’s firing was not made public, Deutsche Bahn’s track record has floundered under his watch. 78,5 percent of Germany’s long-distance trains were arriving on time when Lutz was appointed in 2017. By 2024, the punctuality rate had fallen to just 62,5 percent.

In September last year, Schnieder’s predecessor, Volker Wissing (FDP), said Deutsche Bahn bosses had until 2027 to develop a service and finance improvement plan, demanding quarterly improvement updates be issued to the Federal Ministry for Transport in the meantime.

When Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and his CDU-SPD coalition took office in May, patience had worn thinner, and Merz announced that Deutsche Bahn’s management would be restructured.

In the next stage of restructuring, Schnieder will present a plan to improve Deutsche Bahn services on September 22. The minister says the government has already agreed upon an outline and promised to deliver “thoroughness and diligence before speed".