Deutsche Bahn's new CEO Evelyn Palla has promised a complete overhaul of the company. She plans cuts in the headquarters, greater cleanliness in trains and stations, and more decentralized decision-making. The aim is to significantly improve quality for customers.
Evelyn Palla took over as CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG on October 1, succeeding Richard Lutz, who stepped down prematurely at the end of September. Previously, she led DB Regio AG and was responsible for finances. In an interview with 'Bild am Sonntag', she announced sweeping changes: 'We are turning the company inside out: I am aiming for a complete new beginning,' she said. 'For that, we have to do everything differently than before.'
Palla plans tough cuts in the headquarters: 'I am reviewing every job for its added value to our customers. The administration must serve the railway workers.' Decisions should in future be made on-site by the 'doers', not in the office: 'I am making the on-site doers the decision-makers. They are the backbone of our company.' In top management, she wants to reduce bureaucracy and create more room for those responsible: 'Decisions will in future be made where the responsibility lies, and not three levels higher.'
Additionally, Palla promised more cleanliness and comfort: 'Our trains and stations are our calling card. I will take care of more cleanliness and comfort.' Trains should be 'as pleasant as possible', with dirty trains and defective onboard bistros belonging to the past. Stations should become more inviting: 'We are putting extra effort into making them more inviting.' For customers, a digital 'construction site alert' in the DB Navigator will help plan disruptions better.
These measures aim to combat the ongoing crisis of the state-owned company, which struggles with punctuality issues and quality shortcomings.