Following a Covid-19-related decline in volume sold in 2020 and 2021, DB Long-Distance continued on its path of growth in 2023. In order to achieve the climate policy targets and against the backdrop of increasing environmental awareness, DB Long-Distance intends to further expand its rail market share through attractive offers despite increasing intermodal competition. The proportion of the population living in urban metropolitan areas in Germany will increase until 2050, making fast and direct connections between major cities ever more important. At the same time, the connection of people in rural regions to long-distance transport must be ensured.

As an integral component of the Strong Rail strategy, DB Long-Distance makes an important social contribution. The number of passengers was significantly increased due to target- group-specific offers, capacity expansion of the fleet and service staff as well as a wide range of marketing measures.

In order to achieve the strategic objectives, both the increase and the stabilization of production and the further development of attractive travel services are necessary. Through this, DB Long-Distance contributes significantly to the desired shift in the mode of transport towards rail and to tackling climate change. DB Long-Distance’s core identity – “Our imperative: connecting people, overcoming distances,” “Our mission: the best possible journey – together with passion and excellence,” “Our promise: arriving by the time of boarding” – continues to be of central importance. By continuously developing the project portfolio along the strategic areas of the Strong Rail strategy, we are continuing to drive the implementation of our strategic targets.

• More robust: In order to meet growing demand, DB Long-Distance is expanding its vehicle fleet and maintenance capacity. In 2023, DB Long-Distance put an average of three new ICE trains into operation per month, which is more than ever before. The fleet age is expected to fall to an average of 12 years by 2030. The maintenance capacities required for this growth will be ensured, among other things, by expanding the existing depots in Hamburg and Berlin and by opening new depots in Dortmund. Talent acquisition and the qualification and retention of employees have an important part to play in this staff expansion and in compensating for fluctuations and age-related departures. There is a particular focus on filling operational and service-critical positions, such as traction unit drivers and train attendants, as well as establishing a health-promoting corporate culture.
• More powerful: Improved processes are intended to provide all long-distance trains with high-quality equipment and competitive costs. To increase vehicle availability and quality, production will be digitalized and optimized further. Digitalization gives employees and passengers significant added value, e.g. by supporting decisions with real-time data. In 2023, pioneering projects were launched that will improve processes in traffic control centers and maintenance depots over the long term, thereby increasing reliability, punctuality and vehicle availability.
• More modern: DB Long-Distance aims to build a flexible, reliable and high-frequency long-distance transport network in line with Germany in sync. DB Long-Distance is creating attractive and competitive offers by expanding its lines, increasing frequencies and shortening travel times. The continuous modernization of the fleet will also increase the vehicle availability of the ICE fleet over the long term. The digital customer channels support passengers on their journey. As a digital platform, DB Navigator provides access to the system and facilitates modern and timely travel support along the entire travel chain. With the new bahn.de and the improved DB Navigator, in 2023 Germany’s most used mobility app was completely renewed and made fit for the future. At the station itself, the redesign of 13 DB Lounges so far is contributing to the well-being of passengers. Furthermore, in 2023, with the opening of the first newly designed travel center at Düsseldorf central station, the foundation has been laid for even more personal advice and more digital services. The innovative redesign of travel centers as an important personal point of contact for passengers combines digital services with personal advice in a feel-good setting. Passengers also find a new interior design in the first ICE trains. In future, the customer contact points at the travel center, lounge and ICE will bear the same handwriting, which ensures a point of recognition for passengers. DB Long-Distance is therefore consistently working on renewing the vehicle fleet and improving travel comfort.
• Greener: Environmental protection is a matter of course for DB Long-Distance as a pioneer of green mobility in Germany. Since 2018, DB Long-Distance trains have been running on 100% eco-power. To ensure that passengers can rely on this promise, since 2023 TÜV has certified that they use 100% eco-power. The aim is to switch to climate-friendly biofuel on non-electrified lines. Our new maintenance depots are operating climate-neutrally. There are also further measures to achieve greater sus­tainability to complement these activities.

Development of the network

DB Group and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are expanding their cross-border long-distance transport offer. Since the timetable change in December 2023, there has been an additional ICE connection between Berlin and Vienna via Nuremberg. ÖBB and DB Group are also expanding their cooperation on night transport. Nightjet connections from Berlin and Vienna to Paris and Brussels have been offered three times a week since December 2023.