To 2027: DB-Regio strives for failure rate of less than one percent

The rail subsidiary DB Regio wants to bring the quota of self-defined train losses in regional traffic to less than one percent. “The goal is that we fall on a failure rate of less than one percent by 2027,” said DB Regio boss Evelyn Palla.

Last year, according to train information, the rate was two percent, after three percent in the previous year. You have the number of trains that failed due to the lack of personnel or a lack of trains, by almost 40 percent. For this year, DB Regio is aiming for a further decline of 30 percent. On the one hand, this is good for the quality of the offer, said Palla. On the other hand, it pays off financially – after all, the train for unusual trains is not paid by the topics.

Palla: Hardly a layer remained vacant in 2024

However, not all failures are recorded in the numbers. “Of course we focus on what we are responsible for and tax as a railway traffic company,” said Palla. This is the question of whether you can ask personnel and vehicles. The infrastructure – for example unplanned construction sites, which result in train failures – cannot influence DB Regio. The Bahn subsidiary Infrago is responsible for this. Including infrastructure -related failures, the quota is significantly higher. In 2023 it was eight percent.

The company was able to reduce the loss of personnel in particular in 2024. Palla said that the lack of staff was significantly overcome. DB Regio did 6,800 people last year. Hardly any layer has remained vacant.

In contrast, your own goals have not yet been achieved in the vehicles. According to Palla, the company relies on more staff in the workshops for more reliability of the railways. In addition, the workshop structure should be simplified. In Ulm, for example, more than 20 different trains are currently being repaired. “We want to unknown that,” said Palla. In addition, the fleets should be standardized in the S-Bahn area.