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Development in the year under review
- Punctuality improved despite challenges.
- Tangible performance gains due to positive stimuli from the market and competitive environment, as well as expansion of services.
- Economic development clearly positive.
- Extensive capital expenditures: further inflow of new trains.
DB Long-Distance | 2019 | 2018 | Change | 2017 | ||
absolute | % | |||||
| Punctuality (rail) (%) | 75.9 | 74.9 | – | – | 78.5 |
| Customer satisfaction (SI) | 76.5 | 77.1 | – | – | 77.2 | |
| Passengers (rail) (million) | 150.7 | 147.9 | + 2.8 | + 1.9 | 142.2 | |
| Passengers (long-distance bus) (million) | 0.7 | 0.7 | – | – | 0.7 | |
| Volume sold (rail) (million pkm) | 44,151 | 42,827 | + 1.324 | + 3.1 | 40,548 | |
| Volume sold (long-distance bus) (million pkm) | 173.2 | 194.6 | – 21.4 | – 11.0 | 176.6 | |
| Volume produced (million train-path km) | 145.7 | 143.4 | + 2.3 | + 1.6 | 140.5 | |
| Load factor (%) | 56.1 | 56.1 | – | – | 55.5 | |
| Total revenues (€ million) | 4,985 | 4,682 | + 303 | + 6.5 | 4,347 | |
| External revenues (€ million) | 4,824 | 4,528 | + 296 | + 6.5 | 4,193 | |
| EBITDA adjusted (€ million) | 789 | 675 | + 114 | + 16.9 | 611 | |
| EBIT adjusted (€ million) | 485 | 417 | + 68 | + 16.3 | 381 | |
| Gross capital expenditures (€ million) | 1,241 | 1,081 | + 160 | + 14.8 | 1,060 | |
| Employees as of Dec 31 (FTE) | 17,289 | 16,548 | + 741 | + 4.5 | 15,993 |
| Employee satisfaction (SI) | – | 3.5 | – | – | – | |
| Employee satisfaction – follow-up workshop implementation rate (%) | 97.9 | – | – | – | 99.5 | |
| Share of women as of Dec 31 (%) | 27.2 | 27.2 | – | – | 27.3 | |
| Specific final energy consumption compared to 2006 (based on pkm) (%) | – 31.5 | – 29.3 | – | – | –26.7 |
Punctuality in long-distance transport was increased by the improvement measures implemented despite additional challenges due to more intensive construction activities in the network.
Customer satisfaction decreased slightly. This was mainly due to weak punctuality levels at the beginning of the year and very high utilization in the second half-year of 2019. To assess customer satisfaction, about 52,000 customers are asked each year in six waves about their satisfaction with their latest journey.
Performance development in rail transport was very positive:
- The number of passengers and volume sold continued to increase. The primary drivers of this development were the expansions of services offered, including on the Berlin — Munich and North Rhine-Westphalia — Stuttgart routes, and economic stimuli. Further improvements in offered services also had a positive effect. The high level of construction activity in the network partially dampened development.
- The increase in volume produced resulted from the expansion of services, in particular on the Essen — Stuttgart and Berlin — Munich routes.
- The capacity utilization of the trains remained stable. This is due to the increase in capacity as a result of the expansion of services, with a simultaneously increased number of passengers.
In bus transport, supply adjustments on individual lines led to a decline in volume sold overall. However, the number of passengers remained stable.
Economic development was very satisfactory: the operating profit figures improved as a result of the increase in revenues. There was a dampening effect due to increases in expenses.
- Revenues were positive in terms of prices and performance effects. Supportive effects also resulted from the economic environment and from the expansion of services.
- The increase in other operating income (+15.3%/€ +29 million) is attributable, among other things, to higher income from vehicle sales.
On the expense side, there were noticeable additional charges, particularly in terms of personnel and maintenance expenses and depreciation:
- The development of the cost of materials (+5.1%/€ +135 million) was mainly driven by higher infrastructure expenses as a result of price and performance effects, as well as increased maintenance expenses.
- The higher personnel expenses (+7.8%/€ +76 million) resulted mainly from collective bargaining agreement wage increases and an increase in the number of employees.
- Other operating expenses (+0.7%/€ +4 million) were close to the previous year’s level. Higher costs for training and IT services were offset by lower expenses for consultancy services.
- The significant increase in depreciation (+17.8%/€ +46 million) is mainly attributable to newly procured ICE 4 and Intercity 2 trains and the expansion of the depots infrastructure.
Capital expenditure activities increased clearly. In addition to vehicle purchases, especially for ICE 4 and Intercity 2 trains, measures to increase capacity of maintenance depots created an increase in capital expenditures.
The number of employees increased as of December 31, 2019 due to the expansion of services and the implementation of measures to improve service, comfort and quality.
Employee satisfaction is measured every two years. In the year under review, the focus was on the follow-up processes to the 2018 survey. The follow-up workshop implementation rate is part of the employee survey and remained stable at a very high level.
The share of women remained at the same level as the previous year.
The specificfinal energy consumption on the rail has declined further compared to 2006 (based on passenger kilometers (pkm)). The driver of this improvement was, above all, the expansion of the ICE 4 fleet. The nationwide use of a driving assistance system, which uses up-to-date information to give driving recommendations for a smooth and resource-friendly operation, supported this.