According to the Thursday edition of the Bild-Zeitung, Deutsche Bahn achieved a profit in its core operating segment for the first time in seven years during the first half of 2026. The state-owned group concluded the first six months of the year with a surplus in the hundreds of millions of Euros. This profit contrasts sharply with the approximate loss of 760 million Euros the company recorded for the second half of 2025. Official results for the half-year period will be presented by Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla this Thursday.
Despite its poor punctuality record, the railroad company simultaneously reported a new passenger record. Around 960 million passengers utilized the company’s trains during the first six months. This figure represents the highest value recorded since the COVID-19 era and is 17 million passengers more than in the same period the previous year.
The primary reason cited for the increase is the development of fuel prices. Many commuters shifted from private cars to train travel while ticket prices remained largely stable. Demand also saw a significant rise in long-distance travel starting in April.
According to company data, promotional offers were particularly popular. Approximately 600,000 passengers took advantage of the Last-Minute Ticket discount, and about 200,000 travelers used the family ticket for holiday trips. Additionally, the complimentary Youth Bahncard 25 was ordered around 50,000 times.
