Strategy, business model and value chain (SBM-1)

DB Group is concentrating on its core business:

• Passenger transport in Germany,
• Rail freight transport in Europe and
• Operation and development of rail infrastructure in Germany.

DB Group aims to offer attractive, customer-oriented and environmentally friendly mobility and freight transport solutions. To this end, we rely on integrated operation of transport and rail infrastructure, the economically and environmentally intelligent linkage of all modes of transport, as well as cooperation in German and European networks.

• In rail passenger transport, DB Group operates both local and long-distance services within Germany with DB Regional and DB Long-Distance, as well as cross-border connections to neighboring European countries such as Poland, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands. In long-distance transport, ICE, Intercity and Eurocity trains connect major cities and conurbations throughout Germany and also across borders in cooperation with other European railways. The upstream value creation in rail passenger transport essentially comprises the procurement of rolling stock, spare parts and maintenance components, as well as the provision of rail infrastructure and traction current. DB long-distance customers include both private and business travelers. In local transport, DB Regional operates regional rail and road transport and S-Bahn (metro) lines in major German cities. The target group includes both business and private customers, as well as contracting organizations for regional transport services.
• As the European market leader in rail freight transport, DB Cargo operates the largest rail network on the continent in the following European countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the United Kingdom. In rail freight transport, too, upstream value creation essentially comprises the procurement of rolling stock, their spare parts and maintenance components and the provision of rail infrastructure and traction current. DB Cargo offers its business customers from the automotive, construction materials, chemicals, industrial goods, intermodal, consumer goods and iron, coal and steel (montan) industries block train and single wagon transport operations, combined transport operations and multimodal door-to-door transport operations (full load solutions).
• DB InfraGO not only operates the largest rail network in Europe with about 33,000 km, but is also the largest station operator in Europe. DB InfraGO offers its business customers the use of train-paths and facilities, and is responsible for the maintenance, modernization and further development of the rail network. At the stations, DB InfraGO offers train stops at the platforms, the rental of commercial spaces and a variety of other mobility-oriented services. The upstream value creation is mainly generated by construction and engineering companies for the expansion and maintenance of the rail network, as well as manufacturers of command and control technology and other infrastructure components. In addition to business customers with a focus on train operating companies (TOCs), tenants and mobility providers, customers also include private customers and contracting organizations.
• DB Energy offers energy products related to traction energy and stationary energy supply. In addition to traction current and diesel, this also includes supply solutions for alternative drives and fuels in rail transport, as well as energy management and technical services. DB Energy procures its energy supply in the upstream value chain via long-term electricity supply contracts with renewable energy producers, among other things, in order to ensure a reliable supply for rail transport, and serves mainly business customers, but also private customers at stations.

There was a significant change in the Group portfolio in 2025: the sale of DB Schenker was decided in October 2024 and implemented as of April 30, 2025. The logistics activities of DB Group, which were bundled at DB Schenker, have since ceased to be part of the business model.

DB Group’s sustainability targets are presented in the topic-specific chapters of the sustainability statement.

The main sectors of DB Group are summarized in the following NACE codes (Nomenclature statistique des activités économiques dans la Communauté européenne; classification of economic activities in the EU):

• 35 Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
• 42.12 Construction of railways and underground railways
• 49.1 Passenger rail transport, interurban
• 49.2 Freight rail transport
• 52.2 Support activities for transportation

Our revenues in connection with fossil fuels amounted to about € 3.3 billion in 2025.