The German government was set to fire the embattled head of Deutsche Bahn on Thursday, sources told AFP, following years of fierce criticism of the publicly owned rail giant's deteriorating services.
Richard Lutz, who took the helm of the institution in 2017, is expected to leave his chief executive post two years before the end of his contract.
The 61-year-old will stay until a successor is found, sources at Deutsche Bahn sources said.
Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder, who has publicly criticised Deutsche Bahn's punctuality record, is expected to officially announce Lutz's departure at a press conference later Thursday.
Once widely admired for its punctuality and efficiency, the German rail network has worsened dramatically in recent years owing to what critics say is years of underinvestment.
Passengers now frequently complain of long delays, cancelled trains and poor service on the trains in Europe's biggest economy.
In 2024, just 62.5 percent of long-distance services arrived on time.
The government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which took office in May, has pledged to overhaul the rail network as part of a broader drive to fix crumbling infrastructure.