‘Healthy DSB’ objectives achieved in 2014

DENMARK: National passenger operator DSB presented its annual report for 2014 on February 26, with Chairman Peter Schütze and Acting CEO Stig Pastwa saying it has achieved its objectives under the ‘Healthy DSB’ programme to improve its financial performance, punctuality and reputation.

Ridership was up 2% on the previous year to 190·2 million, which DSB said was helped by improved punctuality, easier access to ticketing including via electric media, and increased bicycle capacity on the S-tog network. Customer satisfaction was steady, while reputation improved but ‘is still far from being at a satisfactory level’. DSB said it recognises that customers want to be able to count on punctual and clean trains, clean stations and multi-modal passenger information.

DSB said 2015 ‘shows signs of becoming a challenging year’. Extensive track improvements works which will require the closure of one track in west Fyn for 100 days are expected to reduce profit by DKr200m. In 2014 the company’s income benefited from the sale of property including the former headquarters building which cannot be repeated.

Last year’s independent Prose/SBB report into the future of the AnsaldoBreda IC2 and IC4 fleets recommended the continuation of efforts to bring them up to the required standard, and DSB will follow the recommendations ‘one step at a time.’

DSB’s 2005-14 public service contracts with the state for the provision of long distance and regional train services expired on December 31. Short term extensions were granted, and will lapse as soon as new long-term agreements are reached, which is expected by the December 2015 timetable change at the latest.

Plans are being developed for the acquisition of ‘several hundred’ electric trainsets to support the national electrification programme. Although a decision has not been made on which organisation will co-ordinate the procurement, DSB says it would ‘gladly take an active role’ in this ‘difficult project’.