Glossary

Airborne pollutants

Air pollution that can have a detrimental effect on the environment. An airborne pollutant can be caused naturally or by people, for example NOx or SO₂.

Bus kilometers (bus km)

The journey of a bus over a distance of 1 km.

Capital employed

Includes the property, plant and equipment (including intangible assets) and the net current assets.

CDP

A non-profit organization which runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, countries and regions to measure and control their environmental impacts. It is now the world’s largest emissions register for business-related greenhouse gas emissions.

CO₂ equivalent

The greenhouse gas effect of gases such as methane or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is converted into CO₂ and added together.

Commercial paper program (CP program)

Contractual framework or model docu­mentation for the issue of short-term commercial papers.

Costs of capital

Based on market values as a weighted average of risk-adequate market returns for the minimum return requirement calculated for debt and equity capital. 

Climate

Not only weather, but also a snapshot of climate factors (altitude, relief, vegetation, etc.) and climate elements (rain, sunlight, etc.) at a location.

Combined transport (KV)

Combined transport of containers or entire trucks on rail and road. 

Contract logistics

Service packages comprising multiple logistics activities. The service provider not only organizes transport orders, but also assumes parts of the value-added chain at its own responsibility.

Credit facilities

Credit facilities granted by banks which can be utilized if necessary. These are firm commitments of credit lines with different maturities, some of which serve as liquidity reserves available at all times, while the umbrella lines are available in particular to foreign subsidiaries for working capital financing and as a
guarantee line.

Customer satisfaction

Satisfaction of customers and partners with a product/offer or a service, surveyed on a repre­sentative basis and evaluated on behalf of DB Group by independent market research institutes by telephone, in person or online.

DB traction current mix

Includes only the electricity supplied for DB’s own rail transport in Germany.

DBeco plus

Service for rail freight transport customers to have their goods transported CO₂-free on all electrified lines within Germany and Austria.

Debt issuance program

Contractual framework or template documentation for the issuance of bonds. This guarantees a high degree of flexibility in issue activity.

Derivative financial instruments (derivatives)

Financial instruments, the price or value of which depends on the future rates or prices of other goods, assets or reference values (interest rates, indices). These are contracts in which the contracting parties agree to buy, sell or swap assets at specified conditions in the future, or alternatively make value equalization payments.

Diversity

Refers to the variation within the workforce, including with regard to sex, origin, nationality, age and physical  limitation.

Existing network

Existing rail network and therefore core of the infrastructure.

Evaluation of facilities

To ensure demand-oriented use of maintenance funds and to check the improvement resulting from measures performed, cyclical and event-­based checks are carried out regarding the status of the structural and technical facilities in the context of a status assessment.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT)

Operating profit before interest and taxes.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)

Operating profit before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Equity ratio

Key financial indicator based on the balance sheet structure: proportion of equity in the balance sheet total as
a percentage.

Equity method/at-equity accounting

Procedures for the accounting of subsidiaries which are not included in the con­solidated financial statements on the basis of full consolidation with all assets and liabilities. The book value of the subsidiary is adjusted by the development of the pro-rata equity in the holding.

Employees with an immigration background

Foreign citizenship or country of birth different from the country of employment.

Employee satisfaction index

Calculated using questions about motivation, employee satisfaction and (emotional) connection on a scale of 1 to 5 (top value).

Final energy

The energy form for which an end consumer receives an invoice, for example for the quantity of fuel added or the traction current obtained.

Floating rate note (FRN)

Bond with a variable interest rate.

Gross capital expenditures

Overall capital expenditures in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets – regardless of the type of financing.

German Sustainability Code (DNK)

Provides a framework for the reporting of non-financial performance which can be used by organizations and companies of any size and legal form.

Gearing

Key financial indicator which, as a structural indicator, describes the ratio of net financial debt to equity as a percentage.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

An international organization which is committed to the dissemination and improvement of sustainability reporting. The GRI guidelines are regarded as the most widely used and most internationally recognized reporting standard for sustainability.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol

A globally recognized standard for the qualification and management of greenhouse gas emissions which is used by many companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments.

Health rate (according to downtime)

Shows the proportion of lost labor not due to illness in the overall performance (as a percentage and broken down by business units) and therefore only includes employees who are still paid a salary.

Hydrocarbons (NHMC)

These are found in, for example, crude oil, natural gas or coal. Their emissions are regarded as harmful to the environment.

Intermodal competition

Competition between different modes of transport, for example between rail and air transport.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

Internationally recognized accounting standard. Since 2002, IFRS has been regarded as the overall concept
of standards adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board. Previously adopted standards are still cited as International Accounting Standards (IAS).

Interoperability (multi-system capability)

Ability of rolling stock to adapt to different technical standards (for example track gauges or power systems) and therefore to run as seamlessly as possible between different rail networks in individual countries.

Intermodal competition

Competition between different modes of transport, for example between rail and air transport.

Investment grants

Financing contributions from third parties in specified capital expenditure projects without future repayment requirements.

K brake shoes

Brake shoe made from composite materials (K), see also V brake shoes.

Long-distance transport

Transport services with the products ICE and IC/EC.

LL brake shoe

Brake shoe made from composites (LL: low noise, low friction), see also V brake shoe.

Lost time injury frequency (LTIF)

Describes the relationship between accident frequency and effectively rendered working hours based on one million working hours.

Methane (CH₄)

Greenhouse gas, colorless and odorless hydrocarbon, main component of natural gas.

Noise

Disruptive or harmful noises for persons and the environment.

Noise reduction

Reduction of noise by active (for example noise barriers) and passive (for example soundproof windows) noise control, as well as noise reduction measures in vehicles.

Noise remediation program

Voluntary program of the Federal Government implemented by DB Group to reduce noise on existing rail lines.

Noise prevention

Legal claim to noise-protection measures on new construction and expansion lines.

Nahverkehr Verkehre mit den Produkten IRE, RB, RE und S-Bahn.

Ordering organization

In general, the Federal states that, as public transport authorities, order regional rail passenger transport services from transport companies.

Overall punctuality

Covers all rail transport on DB Netz AG infrastructure at DB Netze Track.

Rate of people making connections on long- distance transport/long-distance transport

Percentage of connections in long-distance transport shown in the schedule that are actually made.

Requirement plan

New construction and expansion lines in the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan.

Renewable energy

Energy sources which are renewable and in principle unlimited, for example, water, wind and sunlight.

Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG)

Federal law to promote the supply of electricity from renewable energies.

Refugee

According to the Geneva Convention, this is a person located outside of their country of nationality or permanent residence. The person must also have fled due to their ethnicity, religion, nationality, membership of a certain social group or due to their political convictions due to fear of persecution. The individual is not protected in their home country and cannot return.

Scope of consolidation

Group of subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements.

Sustainability

Mission statement for the reconciliation of environmental, social and economic targets with a view to achieving viable development that accounts for the needs of all generations.

Traction current mix

Contains the traction current of train operating companies supplied by DB Netze Energy.

Volume produced

Distance traveled by train operating companies on the rail network. Unit of measurement: Train-path kilometers (train-path km).

Whisper brake

See K and LL brake shoes.