(Berlin, 9th September 2009) In its rotational meeting which was held today, the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn AG decided on further measures for developing its infrastructure from the funds provided by the Economic Stimulus Programs I and II, it also appointed a new member to the Management Board and further discussed the effects of the economic and financial crisis.
Dr. Werner Müller, Chairman of the DB Supervisory Board explains: “The financial support provided by the German federal government is providing a further boost to the railways. DB is implementing the economic stimulus programs without delay. From the renovation of stations to noise minimization measures, to the development of the network, noticeable improvements are on their way for rail passengers, logistics customers and residents alike.”
Today, the go-ahead was given for the extension of the Hamburg-Billwerder and Köln-Eifeltor (Cologne) rail cargo transfer hubs, the renovation of Wiesbaden main station, the upgrading of the Altötting–Burghausen line and the complete reconstruction of the bridge over the river Inn at Ehring. At total of 1.3 billion euro has been made available for over 2,000 station and route projects.
Dr. Volker Kefer was appointed to the Management Board for the new Technology, Integrated Systems Rail and Services Board division. The 53 year old engineer who was born in Koblenz has been the Chairman of the Management Board of DB Netz AG since 2006. He is starting his new post with immediate effect.
Dr. Werner Müller: “I’m very pleased to say that with Dr. Volker Kefer we have found a superb engineer and manager from within Deutsche Bahn Group itself. In the newly created Board division, we are bringing the Group’s technical expertise together in a single unit”.
Dr. Rüdiger Grube, Chairman of the Management Board of Deutsche Bahn AG: “Safety on the German railways comes first in everything we do. I am convinced that with the new Technology Board division we have found the right answer to the current challenges. We have been taking this path since I started my current role in May and we will continue to take it.”
The management also informed the Supervisory Board about the key principles of the reACT09 Group program. With steps from 13 individual projects it will be possible to make cost savings of up to two billion euro per year so that the DB is able to cope with the consequences of the economic and financial crisis.