Evelyn Palla to lead Deutsche Bahn

According to reports in the German media, Evelyn Palla is set to become the first female chief executive of Germany's national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn (DB). Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder is expected to announce this on Monday, when he will also present a new concept for the state-owned company.

Palla, 52, comes from South Tyrol in northern Italy. After career stops at Infineon, E.ON and ÖBB, she joined DB in 2019. Most recently she headed DB Regio, where she was credited with giving more autonomy to regional management. She will replace Richard Lutz, who had led DB since 2017 but was dismissed last month.

The timing is critical. DB has been under fire for massive delays and cancellations, with passengers and politicians demanding urgent improvements. In 2024, the company paid €197 million in compensation for disrupted services. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to modernize the rail network and overhaul DB’s management structure.

The change at the top comes as DB faces both financial and operational strain. Despite multibillion-euro investment programs, the Transport Ministry acknowledges a funding gap of several billion euros for building and upgrading rail lines. "Without money nothing moves — that’s true for the railways too," said in Bild magazine Stephan Stracke, the deputy leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group for transpor, warning that both the rail and road networks risk paralysis without sufficient funds.

Political pressure is mounting for the new CEO. The dismissal of Lutz and other executives, including their multimillion-euro severance payments, has already sparked debate. Now, Palla is tasked with steering Deutsche Bahn through a turbulent restructuring process while restoring punctuality and public trust.