It’s ‘business as usual’ says DB

DB Cargo says it is “business as usual - at the moment” for charters, after the announcement that it plans to axe hundreds of jobs. Locomotives, wagons and 893 roles are expected to go, in response to a drop in demand notably in coal traffic, which DB says has fallen by 78%. Although charters - and especially steam ones - are a tiny part of DB Cargo’s business, the company holds an important position as one of the UK’s only two full steam train operating companies. The other is West Coast, which although a much smaller organisation overall, holds the lion’s share of the steam charter market. “With regards to our announcement on October 17, it’s business as usual at the moment, as no final decisions have been taken,” DB Cargo’s external communications manager Melanie Hill told the magazine on October 21. “All of the company’s proposals are subject to collective consultation with trade unions and elected representatives, so it would be inappropriate to comment further on specific points at this time.”