Strategy DB 2035

DB 2035 Strategy

In 2025, DB Group initiated a fundamental strategic “restart.” The goal is to make DB Group fit for the future again and restore the trust it has lost among customers, employees, policymakers and its owner. The starting point for this realignment are the structural shortcomings in recent years, particularly with regard to the condition of the infrastructure, the quality of operations and economic development.

Against this backdrop, DB Group is undergoing a deliberate paradigm shift. DB Group is moving away from its previous, primarily growth-oriented Strong Rail strategy and systematically realigning itself with its new strategy, “DB 2035: A railway we can be proud of.” In the future, the focus will be on three priorities: reliability, quality and economic viability. Growth in volume produced will only be pursued again once performance has proven to be stable.

The central focus of the DB 2035 strategy is the everyday travel experience for customers. The aim is for rail travel to become reliable, predictable and appealing once again.

A strategy built on clear transformation logic: three phases to 2035

The strategic transformation follows a clear, long-term logic consisting of three phases:

• 2026 – A railway that reinvents itself: In 2026, the focus will be on the reorganization of DB Group. The aim is to lay the structural, cultural and operational foundations for the “restart” and to make DB Group more efficient, more entrepreneurial and consistently customer-centric.
• 2030 – A railway that delivers on its promises: By 2030, DB Group aims to return to being synonymous with reliability – with stable operations, significantly improved quality, and a Group that is financially stronger. Performance commitments should be met once again, and operational stability should be secured on a sustainable basis.
• 2035 – A railway we can be proud of: The long-term strategy is focused on 2035. DB Group aims to establish itself as a high-performing and economically viable Group.

The key is clear prioritization logic: quality over quantity. In the future, growth will not occur in an uncontrolled manner, but will be based on proven quality, high reliability and economic viability. The strategy is deliberately and systematically focused on implementation, with clear priorities and measurable interim targets anchored in a new culture of performance and accountability.