Gotta Upgrade: Deutsche Bahn's Strategy on Older Trains
Deutsche Bahn declines report of seat cancellations
In response to rumors spread by "Spiegel" about Deutsche Bahn planning to empty thousands of seats, the company asserted that it's all malarkey. DB's objective is to revamp and modernize its fleet to maintain reliable operations, they claim.
Deutsche Bahn disputed the "Spiegel's" claim of cutting 21,000 seats in long-distance traffic. Instead, they claim that the number of seats available to passengers will increase significantly, particularly on ICE trains, by the year 2036.
According to the "Spiegel," their report was based on an examination of a "confidential internal document." In this document, it's suggested that DB is considering reducing the number of seats in long-distance traffic from the current 265,000 to 244,000 by 2036. The plan involves eliminating 23,000 seats from older Intercity trains (IC) while adding 2,000 to the ICE fleet. In the future, ICE trains may operate on routes currently served by IC trains.
DB issued a statement clarifying that the numbers mentioned by "Spiegel" referred to seats in the fleet, not daily available seats. This strategic move involves phasing out older and faulty vehicles, which are more prone to breakdowns and being unavailable for passengers. DB is adamant about keeping nationwide transport alive and well, standing behind its commitment to a comprehensive transport offering.
Sources: ntv.de, lme/dpa
- ICE
- Deutsche Bahn
Insight:In the rail industry, there's a trend toward modernizing fleets to upgrade efficiency and passenger experience. Deutsche Bahn's selling of older trains, such as the Westbahn trains, could suggest a move towards introducing modern trains with updated features and possibly increased seating capacities. However, specific details about Deutsche Bahn's intentions regarding seats are scarce in the available reports.
The community policy within Deutsche Bahn may involve updating their employment policy to accommodate the modernization of their fleet, as they aim to improve efficiency and passenger experience by upgrading older trains. The employment policy could potentially incorporate measures to finance the acquisition of new automotive technology for their trains, such as the ICE fleet. In the industry of transportation, this strategic decision could also entail a shift in employment roles, necessitating reconsideration of the current employment policy.
