Innovation for strong rail

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    Deutsche Bahn moves Germany. Every day.

    One railway. Reliable. For everyone.

    Infrastructure

    We operate a 33,400 kilometre-long network with 5,400 stations, which are used by 450 railway companies and 50,000 trains every day.

    Passenger transport

    Every day, more than five million people travel with Deutsche Bahn - in ICE and Intercity trains, in regional express trains or in regional and suburban trains.

    Logistics

    DB Cargo replaces around 80,000 lorry journeys across Europe each day, offering a climate-friendly alternative.

    The immediate action programmes for a better railway.

    More efficient, more reliable and determined to permanently and noticeably improve quality for passengers.

    The modernisation of the infrastructure takes time. We are implementing three immediate action programmes so that customers can see that things are improving at DB: for improved cleanliness and security at our stations. For greater comfort on long-distance services. For a better customer information. For these three programmes, we are investing a total of more than 140 million euros in DB in 2026 alone.  

    Even cleaner trains and ever more reliable service in our dining cars make train journeys even more comfortable and attractive. 

    Increased presence of security staff, additional cleaning and quick repairs at railway stations ensure that people enjoy their stay and get to their trains in comfort.  

    In future, DB will provide customers with even better information before and during their journey - both on the train, at the station and in digital information channels. 
    Innovative IT solutions get off the ground at the Skydeck Accelerator
    DB employees work on their ideas on the Skydeck
    DB employees work on their ideas on the Skydeck

    When asked about what you need in order to stay successful in the age of technology, experts tend to mention the same few things: technological expertise, creativity, open-mindedness, an eagerness to experiment and an entrepreneurial mindset. And it's not just individual employees who need these traits; companies need them, too. That's why Deutsche Bahn offers its employees targeted support for their ideas. One example is its Skydeck Accelerator program for employees.

    The Skydeck Accelerator, the main program for employees, helps employees implement their IT innovations for DB's core business. The goal is to enable people with ideas to create a prototype and develop a business model within ten weeks.

    Teams participating in the program receive extensive technical input over a ten-week period. The program also covers topics including business model development, new methods such as design thinking, and marketing. Each team is responsible for developing a prototype and a business model to back their idea. They are supported by experienced mentors from the DB Group and outside organizations. Each session kicks off with a two-day bootcamp, and teams meet once a week over the course of the program. The program concludes with demo day, when teams present their prototypes and business models in front of an audience. Finally, a decision is made whether to pursue the ideas further.

    The Skydeck Accelerator began nearly three years ago. The EVE and AIM projects got their start there and are now DB ventures, which are organized as startups within the DB Group.