Deutsche Bahn chief decries internal 'organized irresponsibility' amid reform push

Evelyn Palla, chief executive of Deutsche Bahn, told Welt am Sonntag that the railway’s longstanding decision-making model has become a blame-shifting exercise, which she described as “organized irresponsibility.” She explained that headquarters often issues directives that field staff must implement, yet both sides deny responsibility when outcomes fall short. Although Palla has streamlined several management tiers since assuming the role in October 2025, she said these cuts have not translated into better service.

She attributed the network’s deterioration to 25 years of austerity and set the company’s 200th anniversary in 2035 as the deadline for overcoming the worst of the problems. The interview appeared alongside other German news, including large Pride gatherings after a recent terror attack, a record-low Rhine water level, and a forest fire in Bavaria that injured four firefighters.