New Ceo Of Deutsche Bahn Set To Dismiss Db Cargo Ceo Sigrid Nikutta Over Financial Struggles

Published on October 24, 2025

Evelyn Palla, nan recently appointed CEO of Deutsche Bahn (DB), is preparing to disregard Sigrid Nikutta, nan existent CEO of DB Cargo, nan company’s freight subsidiary, arsenic reported by German news outlet Der Spiegel. Nikutta, who besides serves arsenic nan guidance committee personnel responsible for DB’s freight operations, is expected to measurement down connected October 30, 2025. Her dismissal follows ongoing concerns regarding nan nonaccomplishment to move astir nan capacity of DB Cargo, which has been struggling financially for years.

DB Cargo’s Struggling Performance and Financial Losses

DB Cargo is Europe’s largest obstruction freight operator, moving services crossed galore European countries. Despite its starring position, nan section has faced important financial challenges. While DB Cargo has managed to trim its losses, nan institution still reported a antagonistic Ebit (earnings earlier liking and tax) of €357 cardinal for 2024, down from a nonaccomplishment of €497 cardinal successful 2023. However, nan betterment is not capable to bring nan institution to profitability, and DB Cargo remains acold from reaching breakeven, fto unsocial generating profit.

In summation to its financial losses, DB Cargo has knowledgeable a important driblet successful its freight traffic. For nan first half of 2024, nan institution saw a 16% diminution successful full freight traffic, from 35.7 cardinal tonne-km to 30 cardinal tonne-km. In Germany, postulation fell by a larger margin, dropping 22.8% from 24.4 cardinal tonne-km successful 2024 to conscionable 18.9 cardinal tonne-km successful 2025.

Assessment and Urgency for DB Cargo’s Turnaround

A caller information by DB raised doubts astir nan effectiveness of DB Cargo’s existent turnaround plan. While nan appraisal believes that profitability is possible, it highlighted concerns that nan existing strategy lacks nan basal urgency and extent to resoluteness nan division’s issues. The scheme is viewed arsenic insufficient to reconstruct DB Cargo to a competitory position successful nan marketplace successful nan short term.

A important deadline looms for DB Cargo: nan European Commission has prohibited nan institution from utilizing authorities costs to screen losses aft nan extremity of 2025. This determination puts immense unit connected DB Cargo to return to profitability by nan extremity of adjacent year. If nan institution fails to meet this target, drastic measures whitethorn beryllium taken, including nan imaginable closure of unprofitable services and nan waste of parts of nan division.

Union Calls for Leadership Change

The EVG railway union, which represents labor successful nan sector, has been vocal successful calling for Nikutta’s dismissal. The national has criticized Nikutta’s leadership, describing her way grounds astatine DB Cargo arsenic “devastating.” They besides criticized what they comprehend arsenic a deficiency of coherent strategy, accusing nan institution of shrinking and dismantling services without a clear imagination for nan future.

Nikutta, who joined DB Cargo successful 2020 from Berlin Transport (BVG), has faced expanding scrutiny complete nan past fewer years arsenic nan division’s financial business worsened. Her activity will apt beryllium assessed by her successor, pinch unit mounting to reside DB Cargo’s financial stableness and competitiveness successful nan European freight sector.

Looking Ahead: DB Cargo’s Path to Recovery

As DB Cargo faces these captious challenges, nan early of nan section depends connected decisive activity and a much fierce attack to reform. The caller activity nether Evelyn Palla will beryllium tasked pinch implementing a clear, strategical scheme that addresses nan division’s financial struggles while ensuring it remains a cardinal subordinate successful nan European freight market. If DB Cargo tin quickly move things around, it will thief safeguard jobs, sphere services, and support nan section competitory successful nan years ahead.