Development in the first half of 2023
- Punctuality weaker due to construction and higher network utilization.
- Revenues only slightly increased – strikes by EVG and high construction activity have a significant dampening effect.
- Higher expenses – especially for capacity and quality improvements – and cost increases are the driving force behind the significantly weaker profit development.
DB Netze Track | H 1 | Change | H 1 2019 | ||
2023 | 2022 | absolute | % | ||
Punctuality DB Group (rail) in Germany (%) | 91.7 | 92.3 | –0.6 | – | 94.2 |
Punctuality (rail) in Germany 1) (%) | 90.7 | 91.5 | –0.8 | – | 93.6 |
Train kilometers on track infrastructure (million train-path km) | 557.5 | 562.6 | –5.1 | –0.9 | 542.3 |
thereof non-Group railways | 217.5 | 205.4 | +12.1 | +5.9 | 179.9 |
Share of non-Group railways (%) | 39.0 | 36.5 | +2.5 | – | 33.2 |
Total revenues (€ million) | 3,142 | 3,116 | +26 | +0.8 | 2,803 |
External revenues (€ million) | 1,068 | 995 | +73 | +7.3 | 812 |
Share of total revenues (%) | 34.0 | 31.9 | +2.1 | – | 29.0 |
EBITDA adjusted (€ million) | 102 | 834 | –732 | –87.8 | 708 |
EBIT adjusted (€ million) | –240 | 496 | –736 | – | 379 |
Gross capital expenditures (€ million) | 3,703 | 3,019 | +684 | +22.7 | 2,875 |
Net capital expenditures (€ million) | 901 | 718 | +183 | +25.5 | 636 |
Employees as of Jun 30 (FTE) | 54,316 | 51,976 | +2,340 | +4.5 | 48,021 |
Average employees (FTE) | 53,624 | 51,787 | +1,837 | +3.5 | 47,545 |
1) Non-Group and DB Group train operating companies.
Punctuality also declined in the first half of 2023 due to the continuing structural effects. The main reason for this is the high utilization of the track infrastructure, especially in the highly utilized bottleneck network, as a result of the traffic volume that is still increasing in some areas at the same time as there being limited infrastructure capacity. These restrictions are mainly caused by construction and maintenance measures as well as increased infrastructure disruptions.
Overall, train kilometers on track infrastructure declined slightly. The drivers were disruptions as a result of the EVG strikes and due to high construction activity on the network. For intra-Group customers, train kilometers on track infrastructure declined as a result of the loss of traffic mainly in regional transport and the business development in rail freight transport. The takeover of transport by non-Group customers was able to partially compensate for the negative effects.
The economic development was particularly strained due to additional burdens and the omission of special effects from the first half of 2022. The income situation was weaker on the whole:
- Revenues: Slight increase; positive price effects were almost completely absorbed by strike- and construction-related negative effects.
- Other operating income: Significant decline (–29.8%/€ –173 million), partly as a result of the omission of income from property sales in the first half of 2022 and declining project income.
On the expense side, there were significant additional burdens, in particular for measures to expand capacity and improve quality, as well as from cost increases:
- Cost of materials: Strong increase (+40.2%/€ +451 million) is mainly due to significantly higher maintenance services (in particular in connection with quality and capacity measures and the replacement of concrete ties). In addition, energy expenses (mainly due to price; partial compensatory effects from the electricity price brake are reported in the extraordinary result) and maintenance of vegetation and winter servicing.
- Other operating expenses: Significant increase (+32.1%/€ +192 million) resulted, among other things, from the Group levy introduced in the first half of 2023 and from higher expenses for projects and IT services.
- Personnel expenses: Slight increase (+3.2%/€ +59 million), in particular as a result of the higher number of employees.
- Depreciation: Also a slight increase (+1.2%/€ +4 million).
Capital expenditures increased significantly, mainly as a result of higher capital expenditures in the existing network.
The number of employees increased significantly to cover demand and ensure succession planning, particularly in the areas of maintenance, construction projects and operations.