The company relies on "insight and the communication of our train attendants with those passengers who do not wear a mask," railway chief Richard Lutz told the Funke newspapers on Saturday. "Belief and appeal to responsibility come before punishment," he said.
If passengers nevertheless refuse to wear masks on the train as prescribed, "the Federal Police will take long-distance passengers out of the train at the next station," said Lutz. "So far, however, this has only happened very rarely."
"There are clear instructions on the obligation to wear a mask"
Nevertheless, on Thursday Lutz once again emphasized to RTL that Deutsche Bahn had no pardon on the subject: "If you don't want to wear a mask on the train, you have to expect to be thrown out," he threatened.
And further: "There are clear instructions to our colleagues on the trains that if there is a lasting conflict with wearing the mask, we will work together with the Federal Police to get the exclusion on the way."
"Historically unique recruitment campaign" continues
The railroad manager expects further corona-related sales losses of between eight and ten billion euros by 2024. Because the number of passengers has collapsed, the group has to deal with high losses. "This gap is filled by our own savings contribution and government aid," said Lutz. The federal government as the owner shoots billions.
There are no plans to cut salaries for employees. Deutsche Bahn also wants to stick to its investment and recruitment projects. The "historically unique recruitment offensive" should not be slowed down. In the first half of the year, Deutsche Bahn said that around 19,000 applicants had found a job. She sees herself on the right track to achieve the self-imposed goal of 25,000 new hires in the current year.
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Despite the enormous economic damage to Corona, the group honored its promise and set it at a record level, said Chief Human Resources Officer Martin Seiler. The focus of the hiring was therefore on the maintenance and construction project area.
Above all, savings should be made on staff
How many new jobs will be added to the bottom line was initially unknown. Last year the federally owned company hired 24,000 new employees. After deducting those who left the railroad – for example because they retired – an employment increase of 8,000 new employees remained.
"In order to continue the personnel offensive in the sense of a strong rail, talks are currently underway regarding a collective agreement with the EVG", the railway and traffic union, said Seiler. Both sides had endorsed their goals in an “Alliance for our Railway” at the end of May. Wrestling is now on the way.
Deutsche Bahn will publish its half-year results next week.