A SIGNIFICANT financial loss and other commercial factors has led to DB Cargo consulting with ASLEF in relation to the possibility of reducing its train crew resource by approximately 10%.
In a statement issued to DBC staff by chief executive officer Andrea Rossi, he said: “Despite our recent and ongoing efforts to improve our operations, financial efficiency and profitability, regrettably we remain on course to report yet another significant loss this year. Significant softening of some of our core markets, our recent exit from some unprofitable contracts, and loss of business to our competitors means we are running over 25% fewer trains every week – but with the same level of resources.
“Our costs have also increased exponentially over the past 18 months due to external factors like the invasion of Ukraine and its ongoing impact on the price of things like energy, parts and materials.
“While we had been working towards an agreed five-year plan to improve, unfortunately our circumstances have now changed and dictate that we take more immediate action. Our parent company, DB Cargo AG, which is itself awaiting the outcome of a European Commission investigation into state aid funding, has informed its European entities that it can no longer sustain the level of losses being incurred across t
