The measures were presented on 25 February at the ICE maintenance depot in Berlin-Rummelsburg by DB Board Member for Long-Distance Passenger Transport Michael Peterson and Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder.
The programme focuses on cleanliness, onboard reliability and catering availability across DB’s long-distance network. On heavily used routes, DB will double the number of onboard cleaning staff to 220 deployed daily. At selected major stations, including Munich, dedicated cleaning crews will be positioned for rapid interventions.
Carpet cleaning cycles on ICE trains are being increased by 50%, from the equivalent of four football pitches per week to six, covering around 60 trains weekly.
DB is also adjusting logistics processes for onboard catering to improve product availability. Mobile maintenance teams are being stationed at four hubs – Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin – to address faults in onboard bistros and sanitary facilities. Preventive replacement of failure-prone components in toilets is planned to reduce service restrictions.
According to DB, passengers will begin to see improvements during 2026. The programme forms part of a broader federal initiative to improve customer experience in rail, alongside measures targeting station cleanliness and safety and enhanced passenger communication.
