Evelyn Palla takes over as Deutsche Bahn CEO from Richard Lutz

Evelyn Palla took office as chief executive of Deutsche Bahn, Germany's state-owned railway group, on 1 October 2025. She succeeded Richard Lutz, who had led the company since 2017 and left amid long-running criticism over delays, ageing infrastructure and financial losses.

Palla, an Austrian manager, had headed DB Regio, the group's regional passenger rail division, since 2022. Before that she held senior roles at Austria's state railway ÖBB. The company's supervisory board, which represents the federal government as owner, chose her to lead a turnaround.

The change mattered because Deutsche Bahn faced poor punctuality, a heavy investment backlog and political pressure to improve service. Palla's background in everyday passenger operations signalled a stronger focus on customers and reliability. Her arrival set the tone for later proposals on passenger comfort, including how long-distance trains could better serve families.