Our Strong Rail strategy

With the DB2020+ strategy, we have already set ourselves the goal of harmonizing the economic, social and environmental factors with our business goals. Since then, sustainability, in all its dimensions, has been anchored in our value framework and is an integral part of our DNA. In response to rapidly changing environmental, social and political conditions, but also to internal challenges, we have further developed our strategic focus and a new method of design – our inner ambition – which is the heart of our new Strong Rail strategy.

With the Strong Rail strategy, we expressly acknowledge our social responsibility and define our concrete contribution to achieving the Federal Government’s central transport and climate policy objectives. As the geographical and economic heart of Europe, Germany has a special responsibility for the future of the continent. Given the importance of a strong rail system for Europe, Europe will continue as the field of our activities in the future. In the future, however, we will be focusing more on the core business of railway in Germany and are therefore taking into account the internal challenges and rising expectations of our stakeholders regarding the responsibility of DB Group. We will therefore measure everything we do on the value of its contribution to a strong rail system. This also includes our subsidiaries. Subsidiaries with strategic significance for a strong rail system such as DB Schenker, will continue to be held as financial investments. Joint operational initiatives will focus on achieving synergies within the integrated network. Subsidiaries without strategic relevance for the Strong Rail strategy will be put to the test.

We have already set the course for a shift in the mode of transport with our Agenda for a Better Railway, which was decided in the previous year, and started to create additional capacities in the short term, to increase product quality and to improve customer satisfaction. The Agenda for a Better Railway was the basis and starting point for the development of the Strong Rail strategy. With the new strategy, we continue the positive developments of the Agenda for a Better Railway, broaden the scope of the content and the timescale, and thus create a larger strategic framework of Group-wide relevance. Our new Strong Rail strategy is a framework with which we also create the internal prerequisites for shifting traffic to the rails and ensure sustainable alignment with the Green Transformation of DB Group.

In order to create the necessary conditions in both the system and the organization for the shift in the mode of transport, we have identified three areas of expansion within the Strong Rail framework:

MORE ROBUST – we are committed to the comprehensive expansion of performance-critical capacities. With a long-term focus on growth and technological innovations, we are creating the necessary capacities in infrastructure, vehicles and personnel. Among other things, together with the Federal Government, we are investing in the development and construction of lines and hubs, additional terminals for freight transport and the purchase of new vehicles. The digitalization of rail operations, better capacity management and the enhancement of measures in recruiting and qualification also create more capacity. More trains, more train-paths and more employees will enable us to transport significantly more people and goods while offering higher quality of service.
MORE POWERFUL – in order to be able to achieve a high and sustainable performance level in the long term, we will also carry out structural changes. We will simplify the organization and consistently align it with the common goal of a strong rail system. In order to be closer to the customer and respond more quickly to employees, we rely on a strong regulatory and functional organization, the introduction of customer-oriented collaborative processes to improve cross-business cooperation and a binding process philosophy with common standards and methods. With simple processes and clear responsibilities, we achieve more discipline and speed in our implementation of strategies.
MORE MODERN – we will increase the attractiveness of rail for our customers. With more frequent and faster connections, the rail supply will be significantly improved. By expanding in the area of new mobility, we provide our customers with an integrated offer that almost extends the rail line right up to their doorstep and complements local public transport in a meaningful way. By using digital technologies, we will also facilitate the effortless switch between different means of transport. The integration of new and innovative forms of mobility and the use of smart services and digital platforms create clear added value for our customers. In this way, we take into account the rising expectations and create an attractive offer for sustainable mobility and logistics.

We have identified five central topics for each field of expansion, the building blocks. The essential criterion for selecting these building blocks is their business-unit-wide significance for the Strong Rail strategy.

A shift in the mode of transport to rail can only unleash its full potential for environmental and climate protection if we also strengthen and expand our contribution to this. We take our ecological responsibility seriously and are also implementing our Green Transformation. To this end, we have defined a further building block, through which we are reducing our ecological footprint and thus strengthening the effectiveness of the shift in the mode of transport. As part of this building block, environment and 100% green electricity, we are ensuring that our traction current will be fed from 100% renewable energy sources by 2038 and that the energy infrastructure is available for this.

The building blocks form the strategic framework of our business operations and are supplemented by business-unit-specific building blocks.

The building blocks of the Strong Rail strategy

By "click" you get further information about the individual building blocks.

Building blocks for organizing
the shift in the mode of transport

More robust.

1Infra-
structure
expansion

2Digital
Rail for
Germany

3Network
capacity
manage-
ment

4Fleet and
depot
expansion

5100,000
employees

More powerful.

6Strong
line orga-
nization

7Integrated
account-
ability

8Strong
admin

9Stable
processes

1015 employee
building
blocks

More modern.

11Germany
in sync

12Focus on
growth
segments

13Digital
platforms

14New forms
of mobility

15Smart
services

Building block
of the Green Transformation

Environ-
ment and
100% green
electricity

Additional
information

1 - Infrastructure update

Carrying out the planned infrastructure construction projects and upgrades as quickly and consistently as possible.
Additional, smaller-scale infrastructure projects will make us more robust in areas where capacity is tight.
This will eliminate bottlenecks and expand capacity.

2 - Digital Rail for Germany

Using technological innovation to make the infrastructure more state-of-the-art and thus raise its capacity.
Digital Rail for Germany enables us to further expand capacity, cut down on congestion and lay the structural foundation for digital rail operations.
Rolling out ETCS and digital signaling across the board, increasing service frequency and reducing disruptions while maintaining the same high safety standards.

3 - Network capacity management

Capacity-friendly construction will lower the amount of capacity restricted by construction work.
Using capacity-friendly operations to align the timetable more closely with capacity. Dovetail train speed profiles to enable more trains to run at once.
PlanKorridor and PlanStart projects will serve as the first step in optimizing capacity use on bottleneck lines and nodes in our network.

4 - Fleet and depot expansion

The capacity of our fleet will be expanded by modernizing the existing rail vehicles and investing in new ones.
Expanding maintenance capacity by expanding capacity at our depots.
Using sensor technology, AI-based processes and 3D printing technology to make maintenance more efficient.

5 - 100,000 employees

In the coming years, at least 100,000 new employees will be hired across all our business segments.
To this end, introducing a dynamic end-to-end process to determine actual staffing needs, carry out an extensive employer branding campaign and redesign the work of the future.
This will boost DB’s appeal as an employer and will prevent staff shortages, particularly in professions critical to operations.

6 - Strong line organization

Aligning our organization to a single system of targets. DB will resolve conflicts between targets and delineate responsibility more clearly.
Making the organizational structure more effective by reducing the number of management levels, eliminating duplicate structures and streamlining our committee structure.
The number of projects will be limited and will direct their focus on a strong rail system.

7 - Integrated accountability

Clearly assigning integrated process owners for processes that affect multiple business units.
These integrated process owners will be responsible for aligning their processes to customer needs. They will also be responsible for process output and continuous improvement.
Integrated process owners will be part of the line organization and will report directly to the Management Board.

8 - Strong admi

Strong functions at our Finance, HR and Digitalization divisions will set standards and utilize economies of scale by consolidating resources and expertise.
They will establish binding quality requirements at key interfaces, will have the right to veto plans that do not meet these requirements, and will report directly to the Management Board.
They will be the functional managers of their counterparts at the business units and will have a clear understanding of their responsibilities.

9 - Stable processes

The DB Excellence System enables DB to establish a common language and a uniform set of methods and tools to design and improve processes.
This set of methods will be used to optimize and standardize all of the 21 core processes we use in rail operations in Germany.
Establishing the necessary expertise both centrally and locally and will provide it to the administrative departments and the business to assist them in the establishment phase.

10 - 15 employee building block

Including the employees in the transformation, and they will develop and design their own building blocks.
Identifying 15 employee building blocks that will mobilize our employees and enable them to successfully implement the 15 strategy building blocks.
The employee building blocks will be developed in employee forums, activities and the like – and the Management Board will ensure their implementation.

11 - Germany in sync

Regional and local transport, and rail and bus transport, will be dovetailed throughout Germany.
This will cut travel times and improve the travel experience.
Offering twice-hourly service on all the major domestic lines in Germany, and offering hourly service at a minimum to and from major European cities.

12 - Focus on growth segments

Strong intermodal transport – enabling access to the rail network for as many customers as possible with an integrated range of products and services in intermodal transport at all stages in the value chain.
Strong block train service – with regular scheduled and special trains tailored to meet customer requirements and win back market share for rail.
Strong single car service – offering better single freight car transport to appeal to growth sectors.

13 - Digital platforms

Both existing platforms and new ones will be expanded to integrate our own products and those of third parties.
To this end, DB will develop tailored solutions for rail freight transport and passenger transport.
Furthermore, the range of digital channels will be expanded, and digital platforms will be developed with increasing functionality.

14 - New forms of mobility

We will expand our core product – transport by rail – by adding new and innovative forms of mobility.
In this way we will enable seamless, end-to-end transport and travel chains for our customers.
In rural areas and suburbs, the focus is on closing mobility gaps and expanding the public offering.
The goal is to develop integrated transport concepts – including new forms of mobility.

15 - Smart services

We will improve passenger information and other services to optimize the long-distance travel experience, give passengers more control over how they travel and offer more personalized services.
We will work with the industry to offer innovative regional and local products, such as WiFi and innovative ways of using space on trains.
We will offer new rail freight services, including by improving supply chain solutions.

15+1 - Environment and 100% green electricity

Our traction current mix is supplied 100% by renewable energy sources, an expansion of the energy infrastructure created the condition for this.
Alternative drives and energy sources as well as the expansion of electrification are replacing fossil fuels on rail.
For us, sustainability is more than climate protection and is consistently continued in nature resources and noise protection.

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