German Transport Minister Ties Deutsche Bahn Executive Bonuses to Punctuality Targets

Germany's transport minister Steffen Bilger says bonus payouts for Deutsche Bahn's top executives will be directly tied to whether the state-owned operator hits government-set performance targets, as pressure mounts over years of chronic delays.

"It will have a concrete impact on bonus payments of Deutsche Bahn managers if targets set by the government are not met," Bilger told Bild am Sonntag on 9 August, confirming the accountability measure alongside DB's newly appointed leadership.

Under the current agreement between the federal government and Deutsche Bahn, long-distance trains are meant to reach 70% punctuality by 2029, up from around 60% recorded in the first half of 2026. Bilger was candid about the scale of the challenge: "There won't be 100% for the foreseeable future."

The move follows a difficult year for the operator, with 2025 delay figures worse than the year before despite a much-publicised "restart" programme and heavy federal investment in infrastructure renewal.

Tying executive pay to punctuality puts DB in company with other European operators experimenting with performance-linked management incentives, and signals Berlin intends to keep close political oversight of the railway's turnaround rather than leaving delivery solely to new management.