But it remains in the Green to EUR 830 million

After a consolidation phase, it could not remain in the term, that five major operators in the European transport of passengers, said yesterday the pattern of the Deutsche Bahn (DB), Rüdiger Grube. "In these circumstances we cannot or do not want to remain spectators without fighting and we will not let us take the cherries of the cake," warned by presenting the results of the railway operator.

Everyone had of course at the top of British transport group Arriva (train and bus), that the Bahn look with lust. Rüdiger Grube, however, has not been able to say if the DB would be filing an offer to purchase. The Minister of transport, Bavaria (CSU) Peter Ramsauer, declared himself in favor expansion in Europe, but it has this posed a condition: "That the House is in order."

Step bid for Arriva

Clear: that Deutsche Bahn had resolved its problems on the German market. Numerous delays and failures have been recorded in the months of winter, as well at the level of Berlin in the regional network ICE high-speed trains. Moreover, according to "Die Welt", the Liberal Party, in the majority, would first to establish a clear strategy for the public group and especially to determine the record of a possible partial privatization.

If the Deutsche Bahn decided to compete in the record arrived, valued around 1.8 billion, it may well have to deal with the SNCF, it also interested. French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said he was this week for any project that could help the SNCF to grow. Rüdiger Grube has however indicated that it would not be lead in a bid for the British group: "We will not do anything that is economically unreasonable."

In any event, the Deutsche Bahn has done a better fiscal 2009 as its French competitor. While the SNCF released Wednesday of deficit accounts for height of 980 million euros, in the red for the first time in seven years ("Les Echos" from March 25), the German operator has remained largely beneficial. All indicators are certainly lower than 2008: net sales by 12 to 29.3 billion euros, operating profit before exceptional by 32, to EUR 1.69 billion, and net income by 37. But it remains in the Green, to EUR 830 million.

It is the freight branch that has suffered most from the crisis. Following the difficulties of major customers of the automotive industry, chemistry and the mining sector, the quantities transported by rail fell by 10, the volumes transported by road to 3.8 and 16 air cargo. The company expected little return to the levels of 2007 and 2008 before 2014. Cargo is more than 51 of the total sales, compared to 58 in 2008. Despite the technical problems, the passenger branch almost continued, with 1.93 billion (-0,7) travel. The defective parts of the technical problems will be gradually replaced, but the process could last until 2013. The debts were reduced by approximately 6, to EUR 15 billion, and the Group has plans for this year an increase of the turnover of the order of 5; the net result should increase.