Digitalization and innovation

Digitalization at DB Long-Distance is particularly geared towards providing our passengers with easy access to our mobility services, supporting our employees in their day-to-day work and reducing downtime for our trains, thereby enabling more and more punctual journeys. The following selected measures help to achieve this:

• Strengthening the infrastructural base and the train services by quicker availability and use of business-critical, management-related data for efficient and effective decisions.
• Simplified use of the mobility service.
• Optimization of connectivity on board trains.
• Expansion of digital services on board trains as a contribution to sustainability and promotion of environmental protection.
• Support for employees in all areas in the transformation to the digital working environment with respective programs and a greater focus on the user experience of digital applications.

The following progress was made in 2024:

• Better connectivity: In cooperation with mobile phone providers, the mobile radio expansion was driven forward nationwide. DB Long-Distance is also investing in mo­­bile radio permeable windows, which are being im­ple­mented by a laser process. In addition, the hardware on the trains is being continually modernized.
• DB Navigator: In 2024, activities focused on integrated everyday mobility – including new functions for digital travel assistance for commuters and integration of a map of the surrounding area with the option of finding stops and available rental bikes in the vicinity.
• On-board services: Since summer 2024, rail passengers can secure their seat in the first series with the real-time occupancy display throughout their journey. Even without a seat reservation, following the comfort check-in the seat reservation display will show “Occupied until (destination station).”
• Modern working environments: The implementation of modern and user-centered applications and platforms improves everyday working life, such as through a new communication platform for personnel scheduling. This enables digital communication between the train crew and the traffic control center on a tablet or smartphone.