Germany news: Deutsche Bahn reportedly returns to profit
Skip next section Deutsche Bahn reportedly returns to profit in core business 07/30/2026 July 30, 2026 Deutsche Bahn reportedly returns to profit in core business
Skip next section Deutsche Bahn reportedly returns to profit in core business 07/30/2026 July 30, 2026 Deutsche Bahn reportedly returns to profit in core business German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has reportedly returned to profit in its core business for the first time in seven years, marking a sharp turnaround for the crisis-hit rail operator. The state-owned company recorded a profit in the hundreds of millions of euros between January and June, the Bild newspaper and Der Spiegel news magazine reported Wednesday night.
Deutsche Bahn had posted losses of around €760 million ($870 million) in the first half of 2025. The reports said the railway carried around 960 million passengers during the first six months of 2026, a record, and 17 million more than in the same period last year. The company was initially unavailable for comment. Deutsche Bahn reportedly attributed much of the rise in passenger numbers to rising fuel prices.
Commuters in particular switched from cars to regional trains as petrol became more expensive while rail fares remained stable. Demand for long-distance services has also risen significantly since April. Discount offers are also likely to have contributed to the growth. Around 600,000 people used the last-minute ticket, while 200,000 traveled with the family ticket. Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla is due to present the company's first-half results on Thursday.
The operator has recently faced criticism over poor punctuality, deteriorating infrastructure, and heavy financial losses. It recorded a net loss of more than EUR1 billion in 2025.
The BriefWire