DB E.C.O. Group

We had the honor of participating in Movilia 2025, the key event for the future of transportation in Medellín, Colombia. From March 12 to 14, industry leaders gathered to discuss innovative solutions driving sustainable mobility in the country. Our Executive Director for Latin America, Carsten Puls, participated in the session "Railway Capacity in Colombia: Integration of Freight and Passengers," where discussions highlighted mixed traffic as a key strategic opportunity. This approach would optimize integration between modes of transportation, boost economic development, reduce environmental impact, and close social gaps through more accessible, efficient infrastructure. We are deeply committed to the revival of railway transport in Colombia. Drawing on our experience with German railways, we are eager to share knowledge and support the development of a sustainable transportation system for the country’s future. The congress provided an inspiring platform for dialogue, and we thank Metro de Medellín and Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana for inviting us. 

Our subsidiary DB Engineering & Consulting's Design Center Romania continues its successful partnership with the Technical University of Civil Engineering in Bucharest. Recently, our team participated in the Railway Career Day. The event featured roundtable discussions between industry experts and faculty members, focusing on market-relevant skills and industry tools. Interested students had the opportunity to connect directly with our colleagues and learn about career paths in the railway industry and urban rail transport. This collaboration builds upon our ongoing commitment to nurturing engineering talent. Last year, experts from our Rail & Road Infrastructure and Civil Engineering teams shared their expertise, presenting various projects of the Design Center. As sponsors of the university’s CADRE Competition of Wooden Bridge and Truss Models, we actively support the students' innovative projects. Our Design Center in Romania is integral to our global operations. It provides vital engineering services for projects in infrastructure design, structural engineering and railway systems across Germany and worldwide. Through initiatives like these, we aim to inspire future engineers to join us in shaping tomorrow's mobility and infrastructure landscape. 

To mark International Women’s Day, we proudly hosted DB E.C.O. Women’s Week from March 4–6, featuring three events highlighting our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We believe that achieving gender equality is a shared task. That’s why during this year’s Women’s Week we put the focus on allyship and what men can do to advance equality. The week began with a keynote by Dr. Christian Berg, CEO of the AllBright Foundation, titled “When the Boss Is Always Named Thomas – Why Diversity in Management Is So Rare.” Dr. Berg discussed the lack of representation in leadership and ways to foster inclusive leadership cultures.   On Wednesday, Philip Eussen, Executive Director Southern and Southeastern Germany at DB E&C, enphasized the importance of women in management and how men can challenge stereotypes to drive change.   We concluded with an International Speed Networking event, celebrating the achievements of our female colleagues while fostering global connections. At DB E.C.O. Group, we believe diversity drives success. Together, through solidarity and allyship, we can create a more inclusive future. Here’s to a meaningful International Women’s Day on March 8! #HeForShe Credits: hendayani

Recently, we had the privilege of participating in the 4th BIM Meeting: BIM Implementation in Infrastructure Projects in Bogotá, Colombia. The event, organized by the BIM Academic Forum Colombia, brought together industry stakeholders, public partners and scientific institutions to share knowledge and insights into the transformative role of BIM in infrastructure development. One of our senior BIM consultants, Jeniffer Hamon from our subsidiary DB Engineering & Consulting, had the honor of presenting. As a practical example of BIM implementation benefits, she shared insights from our pilot project in Colombia’s first metro system under the title “Application of Digital Twins in Railway Systems”. Over a six-month period, we implemented digital twins to optimize maintenance processes. By integrating real-time data, creating a BIM model, and synchronizing it with SAP, we enabled predictive maintenance strategies. This approach led to reduced downtimes, cut costs, and extended infrastructure lifespans, demonstrating how digital twins can revolutionize rail system operations. We are proud to contribute to the advancement of BIM and digital solutions, which foster efficiency and innovation in infrastructure projects. A heartfelt thank you to the BIM Academic Forum Colombia for organizing this inspiring event! 

Ramadan Kareem from DB E.C.O. Group As the holy month of Ramadan begins, we extend our warmest wishes to our muslim colleagues, clients and partners observing this special time around the world. Ramadan is a month of reflection, compassion, and unity – values that resonate deeply with our mission of creating sustainable and inclusive solutions for a better future. We are inspired by the spirit of giving and togetherness that this month brings and remain committed to fostering collaboration and understanding across cultures and beliefs. We wish you a blessed Ramadan filled with peace and meaningful moments. Ramadan Kareem! 

Today, DB E.C.O. Group CEO Niko Warbanoff presents the company's outstanding financial performance for 2024, highlighting revenue of nearly €1 billion and incoming orders of €1.1 billion. The order backlog reached an impressive €12 billion, demonstrating strong market demand for our expertise. Our success extends across our subsidiaries, including DB Engineering & Consulting, DB International Operations, infraView GmbH , ESE Engineering und Software-Entwicklung GmbH, and regional operations in the USA, Canada, Uruguay, and India. Two of our notable achievements last year include the successful completion of the Riedbahn line overhaul in Germany and the continued expansion of Delhi-Meerut's regional rapid transit system. But numbers and successes mean little without the people who bring them to life. Behind the DB E.C.O. Group is a growing team of now more than 8,100 dedicated experts with tireless commitment and passion for railways. We are proud to have demonstrated our expertise in infrastructure and operations projects for the strong rail in Germany and worldwide and express our gratitude to clients, partners, and team members for their contribution to this great success.  

Last week, our CEO Niko Warbanoff and a delegation from our subsidiary DB International Operations visited the transformative Montevideo–Paso de los Toros railway line operated by DBCC Transport - Uruguay in Uruguay. This state-of-the-art project is modernizing Uruguay’s rail infrastructure, delivering significant economic and environmental benefits while strengthening global connectivity. A key highlight of the visit was visiting the client UPM Uruguay and witnessing a fully unloaded train departing the harbor for its return journey to the mill, showcasing the efficiency and reliability of this cutting-edge rail network. The delegation also engaged in productive discussions to explore further collaboration and ensure the project’s long-term success. With each train replacing 52 truck journeys, the 273-kilometer railway will reduce 65,000 truck trips annually, cutting emissions and creating a greener supply chain. Beyond sustainability, the railway is a catalyst for economic growth and innovation. UPM Paso de los Toros’ operations not only strengthen local communities but also set new benchmarks for modern rail operations. They create up to 10,000 permanent jobs, integrate 600 companies into Uruguay’s value chain, and contribute 2% to Uruguay’s GDP, demonstrating the significant economic ripple effects. Utilizing advanced ETCS 1 technology, rapid wagon turnaround times, and efficient shuttle services, this operation sets new benchmarks for modern rail systems. Together with our partners from UPM Uruguay, we are proud to drive this milestone operation forward.

This week, a delegation including our COO International Business, Stefan Geisperger, is visiting Colombia. As we are committed to advancing sustainable mobility solutions in Latin America, we are proud to meet with some of our key stakeholders in the region.  A special highlight from the visit was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Metro de Medellín, for cooperation and development activities on railway matters and which could include a future exchange of professionals to foster bilateral knowledge transfer. This event was attended by representatives of the DB Group, the German Embassy in Colombia and Metro de Medellín.  The busy agenda also included strategic discussions on opportunities to grow our business in the region, as well as workshops on more technical topics such as digital twins and asset management.  We are proud to contribute to transformative projects and to build strong and lasting partnerships with clients such as Metro de Medellín. Through cutting-edge individual solutions and global expertise, we continue to support sustainable urban development and efficient transport systems in Colombia and beyond. Together, we are shaping the future of rail mobility in the Latam region. Credits: Daniela Galeano - Metro de Medellín

We’re excited to launch the second edition International LEAD Program, building on the success of the first round and confident in the strength of the concept! At our kick-off in Riga, 13 talents from around the world came together to focus on what matters most: fostering connections across regions, gaining comprehensive leadership knowledge through self-analysis, and mastering practical leadership scenarios. We are convinced that the 8-month program and its carefully designed 4 modules of content are perfectly suited to strengthening our managers and employees in their existing and future roles. As we take on further strategic lighthouse projects worldwide, strong and authentic leadership is critical for success. By leveraging our expertise, we empower future leaders to contribute to a strong rail system and the vision of a "Railway for the world of tomorrow." Credits: Giada Feroce, Maria Wolf, Lisa Seibt, Elīna Vlasova, Trainer: Stefan Thode

Yesterday, Michael Ahlgrimm, Executive Director for Europe & Central Asia, and Anna Cernova, Head of Branch Office Latvia & Northern Europe, had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Cornelius Zimmerman, German Ambassador to Lithuania, and Rüdiger Zettel, Deputy Head of Mission. The discussion focused on the progress of our subsidiary DB Engineering & Consulting's projects in the region and their strategic importance for Europe. As a German company at the heart of Europe, we are committed to connecting people, fostering collaboration, and supporting the transformation to sustainable mobility. Our work in the region emphasizes different key priorities: strengthening people-to-people connections and ensuring mobility to enhance Europe's safety and logistics. Integrating the Baltic states into Europe's rail network is a vital step toward a connected, secure, and sustainable future. We are proud to contribute to this transformation and remain dedicated to supporting Europe's connectivity and prosperity through expertise and innovation.