Union demands resignation of Railways CEO Lutz
The Football-EM exposed the weaknesses of German Railways painfully. The CDU demands consequences at the top of the corporation. Apparently, Bahn CEO Lutz is not a savior. The series of mishaps is damaging for Germany.
Before the final of the Football-European Championship in Berlin on Sunday, the CDU drew a devastating verdict on the special train services of German Railways during the tournament. "The Bahn gives a dreadful image - and that's not just during the EM. Train failures, delays, and the run-down infrastructure regularly push passengers to the brink of a nervous breakdown," said the transport policy spokesperson of the CDU in the Bundestag, Thomas Bareiß, to the newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe.
Practically every customer had their horror story with the Bahn. "Responsible for this disaster is centrally the Bahn CEO. Richard Lutz is ruining the good reputation of our country during this EM," so Bareiß continued. The Bahn needs a savior as CEO. "Mr. Lutz can't fill this role at all. If he doesn't manage to put the Bahn back on track, then he has to go," said the transport policy expert.
Wissing: Bahn took it upon itself
During the nearly month-long Football Championship in Germany, the Bahn was repeatedly criticized. British fans criticized the German Bahn first. After several interruptions in a special train journey to the game against the Netherlands in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, Austrian fans sang derogatory songs. "The German Bahn is a mess," they sang.
The Bahn took itself upon itself during the Football-European Championship, criticized Transport Minister Volker Wissing. "What happened to the fans sometimes is not in line with the expectations of Germany and not with the expectations I have for our transport infrastructure," said the FDP politician.
Bordbistros and climate control top-notch
In one sector, however, the Bahn can score points with its performance record. As the Düsseldorf "Rheinische Post" reported, there were almost no closed Bordbistros in the trains in 2023. The climate control systems also functioned in most cases. This is evident from an answer of the Federal Government to a Union inquiry, which is available to the editorial team.
It says: "In about 97 percent of the train journeys, the Bordbistro in the DB Fernverkehr AG trains was open for sales." The "already low failure rate" wants the corporation to further reduce. For example, "the personnel strength in the onboard catering could be increased by around 300 employees." In the previous year, about 98.4 percent of the ICEs and 98.3 percent of the ICs had functioning climate control systems.
The consistent modernization of the fleet reduces the number of disruptions, it continues in the paper. It further states: "Union fraction vice-president Ulrich Lange told the 'Rheinische Post': 'We are happy that at least the catering for Bahn passengers is secured and the customers don't have to sweat.' So, only 50 percent of all DB long-distance trains were punctual in June, emphasized the CSU politician."
The CDU suggested that the poor performance of German Railways during the Football-European Championship could significantly harm Germany's economy, as the negative reputation of the Bahn could deter tourists and businesses. Despite the criticism, Bahn CEO Richard Lutz has yet to prove himself as a savior for the company, according to the CDU's transport policy spokesperson.
German Railways' performance in providing services for the Football-European Championship was heavily criticized by travelers, with several incidents causing discomfort and frustration for passengers, highlighting the need for improvements in their services to maintain a positive economic impact.
