(Berlin, 28 July 2011) Deutsche Bahn is continuing on track to success. During the first six months of 2011 the company recorded the highest revenues it ever earned in a half-year period, along with a surge in profits and a renewed increase in the number of passengers. First half 2011 revenues rose by € 2.8 bn, or 17.2 % over the same year-ago period, to € 18.9 bn. The increase is significantly higher than the additional € 1.5 bn in revenues contributed by the latest addition to the Group, Arriva.
Dr. Rüdiger Grube, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of DB AG, stated during the presentation of first half results in Berlin Thursday that: “The figures confirm that we have been on the right track and also signal that we should continue on as we have. Above all else we want to become more customer- and environmentally-friendly while raising our levels of service and quality. Open and honest communication with our customers is very important for us. And that is why we will start publishing our punctuality scores in regional and long-distance transport every month on the DB Internet site as of this September.”
All business units contributed to the favorable results. Adjusted EBIT rose in the first half of the year to € 1.1 bn Euro, or € 287 mn (+ 34 %) more than the same year-ago figure. Net financial debt increased by € 351 mn between December 31, 2010 and June 30, 2011 to € 17.29 bn. It should be taken into account that DB paid a first-time dividend of € 500 mn to the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011. Dr. Richard Lutz, DB CFO: “We’re on track and we are also confident about the remaining months, even if the pace of the recovery has slowed a bit.”
Number of passengers rises again
The number of passengers traveling via Deutsche Bahn trains rose again during the first half of 2011 and increased by 1.9 % or 18.4 mn to 972.5 mn. Volume sold in rail passenger transport was almost unchanged at 38 bn pkm. The number of passengers recorded in bus transport remained unchanged at 408.5 mn. Volume sold in bus transport declined by 1.2 % or 56 mn to 4.72 bn pkm for reasons including the declining number of school children.
Transport and logistics continue to expand
Rail freight transport was able to grow further in the first half of the year as the freight carried increased by 4.6 mn tons or 2.3 % to 207.8 mn tons. At the same time, volumes sold rose by almost 4.2 bn tkm to 56.78 bn tkm, or 8 % more.
European land transport recorded a strong upswing as the number of shipments surged by 20.7 % or 8.14 mn to 47.51 mn. While volumes of ocean freight also climbed by 4.6 %, air freight volume declined marginally by
0.6 %.
Infrastructure: More traffic on the tracks
Demand for train-path rose further in the first half of 2011. Train kilometers on track infrastructure increased by 2.5 % or 12.9 mn trkm to 521.4 mn trkm. Non-Group railways’ share of total train-path demand amounted to 20.8 %, and surpassed the 20 % level for the first time ever.