Union faction deputy calls for end of rail boss Lutz
"The delays of Deutsche Bahn during the EM are a major inconvenience. Both Union and SPD agree on this. Bahn-CEO Lutz sees things differently. Union fraction vice-president Lange is now demanding consequences.
In light of the poor punctuality records of Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the problems during the Football European Championship, Union fraction vice-president Ulrich Lange is calling for personnel consequences for the board of the company. Bahn-CEO Richard Lutz and his board could not simply continue as if nothing had happened, Lange told the "Augsburger Allgemeinen". "In football terms, some board members should now be sent off". The red card should also apply to Bahn-CEO Lutz.
"The Bahn is not a calling card for Germany", Lange told the newspaper further. "We have major problems with construction site management, information and service". The continuing series of bankruptcies, bad luck and malfunctions can only be attributed to insufficient investments, but is also a management problem.
Lutz showed himself little self-critical during a supervisory board meeting, as reported by TableMedia. One could be very, very satisfied with everything that has happened at the Bahn so far, Lutz is quoted as saying. We have enough personnel and trains in operation. The statements were reportedly met with astonishment by the meeting participants.
Fans are not the only ones affected by the train failures. Even the Austrian national team had to endure a train breakdown. EM-tournament director Philipp Lahm also came late to a game with the Bahn. The Dutch team complained publicly that there was no ICE train after 11 pm from Berlin to Wolfsburg.
SPD fraction vice-president Detlef Mueller also criticized the management of DB: The federal government is providing billions of euros for the upcoming corridor renovations on the rail network - "the Bahn must successfully build on these funds in order for reliability in the network to rise again", Mueller told the "Rheinische Post". The company must "consistently make clear improvements in infrastructure and operations".
Regarding the EM, Mueller said: "The delays are a major inconvenience. Passengers rightly expect punctual and functioning trains." However, June was also influenced by external factors such as flood damage on the railway tracks and additional passengers due to the EM.
The chairman of the railway union EVG, Martin Burkert, told the "Augsburger Allgemeinen" that the punctuality target of 70 percent could no longer be reached this year. "In terms of punctuality in long-distance traffic, we were at about 55 percent in June. That was also due to the downpours and flooding." To reach the targeted 70 percent for the entire year, DB would have to achieve significantly better values of 77 percent in the remaining months, which would be difficult. In the second half of the year, new construction sites would add to the delays in train traffic. "That will not be possible."
The Union parliamentary group, led by Ulrich Lange, is pushing for accountability from German Railways' leadership, specifically CEO Richard Lutz, due to the persistent issues with punctuality and service during the EM. SPD fraction vice-president Detlef Mueller also advocates for improvements in DB's infrastructure and operations to enhance network reliability, highlighting the Union's and SPD's shared concern over the DB's performance.
