DB Systel: Union warns of wave of layoffs and dismantling
The EVG warns of massive job cuts and relocations at DB Systel. Up to 4000 jobs are planned to be cut.
(Image: Deutsche Bahn)
The Railway and Transport Union (Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft, EVG) warns of massive job cuts and relocations at Deutsche Bahn's IT subsidiary DB Systel. By the end of 2029, a reduction of around 1900 full-time positions was already planned. Now, according to the EVG, there are new, not yet confirmed plans to cut up to 4000 jobs. At the same time, the IT service provider faces the threat of partial or complete dismantling. Deutsche Bahn did not provide details to MDR, merely stating that the company should become leaner and more customer-oriented. Plans are to be developed for this.
DB Systel GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main. The company employs around 7200 people and operates several locations in Germany, the largest being in Frankfurt am Main, Erfurt, and Berlin. Its core task is the central IT supply for the DB Group – from the EBuLa (Electronic Timetable) to the DB Navigator and ticket machines.
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Alleged decentralization planned
According to the union, the group plans to decentralize almost all IT tasks under the title "Transformation of DB Systel". Individual business units are to be responsible for their IT in the future. The EVG calls this dismantling. It argues that cybersecurity can hardly be guaranteed without a central structure. Just at the beginning of this week, Deutsche Bahn fell victim to a DDoS attack that affected the website and timetable information. A central security infrastructure is also indispensable when taking action against fake Deutschland-Tickets, which cause damage in the three-digit million euro range.
A rally is scheduled to take place in Frankfurt am Main on February 25, 2026.
(mki)
