Deutsche Bundesbahn
|
Logo of the DB, "der Keks" (the biscuit), used 1949-1994 |
The
Deutsche Bundesbahn or
DB (German Federal Railway) was formed as the state railway of the newly established
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on
September 7,
1949 as a successor of the
Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft. The DB remained the state railway of West Germany until after
German reunification, when it was merged with the former
East German Deutsche Reichsbahn to form the
Deutsche Bahn AG, which came into existence on
January 1,
1994.
|
Telegram announcing the formation of the Deutsche Bundesbahn |
After World War II, each of the military governments of the
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany was de facto in charge of the railway on its territory. On
October 10 1946, the railroads in the
British and American occupation zones formed the
Deutsche Reichsbahn im Vereinigten Wirtschaftsgebiet, while on
June 25 1947, the provinces under French occupation formed the
Südwestdeutsche Eisenbahn. With the formation of the FRG these successors units of the DRG were reunited, a situation codified by the Bundesbahn-Law (Bundesbahngesetz) that was ratified on
December 13 1951. The railroad of the
Saarland joined on
January 1 1957.
The DB was a state-owned company that, with few local exceptions, exercised a monopoly concerning rail transport. With its headquarters in
Frankfurt, in 1985 the DB was the third-largest employer of the FRG giving work to 322,383 people. A special transit police (Bahnpolizei) provided security. The catering needs of the DB were supplied by the "Deutsche Schlafwagen- und Speisewagengesellschaft" (DSG), later "Deutsche Service-Gesellschaft der Bahn", as the former caterer,
Mitropa, was situated in the Soviet occupied part of the country.
The immediate task in the early years after the end of
World War II was one of reconstruction of the heavily damaged infrastructure and replenishment of traction and rolling stock. Contrary to the
Deutsche Reichsbahn in the GDR, the DB was not subject to
reparations, and benefited from the influx of capital through the
Marshall Plan. During the early years, new steam engines were constructed and placed into service. The last steam locomotive type to enter service in 1959 was series 10 of which only two units were built. Soon, with increase in mass motorization, the railway started to lose passenger volume. As a result
rail busses were introduced on some lines, while other smaller lines were closed. Main lines became more and more electrified. The later years of this epoch saw a decrease and eventual phasing out of steam engines the last one to cease regular service in
1977. Traction was provided increasingly by diesel and electric engines. With increased use of diesel and electrification, progress was made to decrease travel time for passengers. New types of passenger trains were introduced such as the
Trans-Europ Express and the
InterCity.Transport of goods also had to compete with the ever increasing competition by trucks. Furthermore traditional services such as coal and iron ore shipment declined with the change of the overall economy.
After the introduction of the
TGV in France, the
ICE system of high speed trains was developed. Significant stretches of new high speed track, like the
Hanover-Würzburg high-speed rail line, had to be laid or upgraded. Other characteristics of this epoch are the introduction of computer systems and the steps taken towards an integrated system of European railroads. Externally, rolling stock displayed more colorful and varied livery schemes.
*
Heinz Maria Oeftering,
May 13 1957 -
May 12 1972*
Wolfgang Vaerst,
May 13 1972 â€"
May 12 1982*
Reiner Gohlke,
May 13 1982 â€"
June 18 1990*
Heinz Dürr,
January 1 1991 -
December 31 1993 (thereafter head of newly formed
Deutsche Bahn AG).
*
Locomotive classification of the Deutsche Bundesbahn*
Deutsche Bahn*
History of rail transport in Germany*
Pictures*
DB:1949-1970 (in German)*
DB:1968-1990 (in German)*
Some historical background (German)
