DB Fernverkehr
DB Fernverkehr AG is a semi-independent division of Deutsche Bahn that operates long-distance passenger trains in Germany. It was founded in 1999 in the second stage of the privatisation of Deutsche Bahn, under the name of DB Reise&Touristik and was renamed in 2003. As of 2024, DB Fernverkehr operates approximately 800 domestic and 250 international train services per day, utilizing 500 trainsets.
Heavily indebted, its frequent malfunctions have been the subject of intense debate in German and European public opinion for several years.
History
The company emerged as DB Reise & Touristik AG on 1 January 1999 in the context of the second stage of the railway reform from the division of long-distance transport of Deutsche Bahn. It traded under this name until 2003.Instead of the expected five, only 2.2 million passengers used the long-distance trains in traffic to the Expo 2000. Instead of the expected DM 400 million, only DM 125 million was generated. In mid-January 2001, the company announced plans to create a standard of comfort and quality at the ICE level with investments amounting to DM 2 billion. Among other things, 28 additional ICE Ts and 13 more ICE 3s were procured and the modernization of 117 locomotive-bound IC kits was promised. Also in 2001, it was decided to externally adapt all long-distance passenger coaches to the color scheme of the ICE trains.
From 2009 to 2012, the company reduced its seating capacity by 4 percent. In mid-2012, the average load factor of the trains was 48.1 percent, three percentage points higher than in the previous year. In the first half of 2012, the number of passengers increased year-on-year by more than 5 percent to 63.3 million. In 2012, the company carried 131.3 million travelers, generating 37,357 billion passenger-kilometers of traffic at 145.1 million train-kilometers. The utilization of the trains was 50.3 percent.
In mid-2013, the company claimed 75 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy sources. During the 2013 flood, many routes, including the high-speed line between Hanover and Berlin, were not or only partially accessible for weeks. The company suffered heavy losses and also lost significantly in its punctuality statistics.
With a half-million travelers in one day, the company recorded a new passenger record on 23 December 2016. Between January and April 2017, a new record was set with around 45 million travelers. The year 2018 was expected with 143 million passengers and a record profit of 400 million euros expected.
As of 2023, the average occupancy rate of DB Fernverkehr's trains rose to 49.1 percent after a steep drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the same year, punctuality decreased from above 80 percent in the years prior to 69.6 percent, leading to widespread criticism. During the first half of 2024, punctuality decreased even further down to 62.7 percent with DB stating widespread strike action, extensive construction works and extreme weather conditions as reasons.
Products
DB Fernverkehr provides domestic semi-fast and high-speed long distance trains throughout Germany as well as cross-border long-distance transport services to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland with further services to Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic jointly operated with their respective national railway companies.DB Fernverkehr uses the following brands for all of its long-distance services:
- Intercity Express - high-speed train services within Germany as well as to Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands using dedicated ICE trainsets.
- Intercity - semi-fast services within Germany as well as to Austria and the Netherlands using older coach rolling stock or newer dedicated double-deck trainsets.
- EuroCity - semi-fast international services mostly in cooperation with SBB, ÖBB, PKP and ČD using a mix of own and foreign coach rolling stock.
- EuroCity-Express - dedicated German brand for EuroCity services between Germany, Switzerland and Italy with SBB and Trenitalia using high-speed trainsets.