Lтурс Lutz needs to depart ahead of schedule.

Railway's Top Executive, Richard Lutz, Steps Down Amidst Persisting Crisis

, and Administrator

2025 September 2 . 5:21 AM

2 min read

Lтурс Lutz needs to depart ahead of schedule.

Deutsche Bahn Modernisation Causes Delays and Cancellations

Train travelers in the Altenburg region should brace themselves for longer journey times starting from August 8, as Deutsche Bahn embarks on a modernization project for the Altenburg-Werdau section, expected to last until October 26. This comes as part of a wider plan to renovate around 40 important routes, aimed at improving the infrastructure of the German railway giant.

The renovation of the Hamburg-Berlin route is currently underway, with the entire route set to be closed for nine months. This extensive overhaul is part of Richard Lutz's restructuring plan, announced in 2024, which aims to improve infrastructure, train operations, and economic viability within three years.

However, the search for a successor to Richard Lutz, who has been at the helm of Deutsche Bahn since early 2017, is still ongoing. As of August 2025, no official appointment has been made, with Richard Lutz continuing in his role in a caretaker capacity. The search for a new CEO is expected to take some time due to the challenges in finding a suitable candidate.

The dilapidated infrastructure of Deutsche Bahn has long been considered the main reason for delayed trains, and this comprehensive renovation is now expected to take longer. Criticism of the railway company's financial performance has been voiced by Mario Reiss, the head of the GDL union, who recently called for a change in leadership following Deutsche Bahn's loss of 760 million euros in the first half of the year.

In addition to the Altenburg-Werdau section, other sections of the network are also undergoing modernization. For instance, ICE and IC connections between Nuernberg and Halle via Erfurt will be suspended from August 25 to September 9 due to construction work.

For the latest updates on Deutsche Bahn, tune into ARD MEDIATHEK. As the modernization continues, travelers are advised to check the Deutsche Bahn website for any schedule changes and cancellations.