Deutsche Bahn

The Deutsche Bahn (DB) [German Railways] is Germany's largest and formerly only train service operator on federation owned tracks in West Germany.

It was founded around 1920 as Deutsche Reichsbahngesellschaft (DRG) [German Empirial Railways Company] by uniting the small Staats- and Länderbahnen (State- and Territorial Railways) which existed in and where operated by small, formerly souvereign terriories and kingdoms like Bavaria, Saxonia, Prussia, among others.

The DRG existed until 1945. After World War II, Germany was divided in 4 parts (The American, British, French and Russian zones, of which the first 3 eventually became the Federal Republic of Germany (aka. West Germany) while the later one became the German Democratic Republic (aka. East Germany), and so was the DRG. At first, train service (where possible) was controlled by the allies in their respective zones.

After the 1949 foundation of the two German states, authority over railway operations was transferred to the new governments and the building of the post-war railways began. The new ancestors of the DRG were named Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) [ German Federal Railways ] in the west while the east kept the the old name minus the "Gesellschaft" [Society], and named it's railways Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR) [German Empirial Railways], even though there was no more Empire. Unlike the DRG, which was a corporation (Hence the "Gesellschaft" = "Society", meaning "Company"), both the DB and the DR were federal instiutions, directly controlled by the minstries of transportation. Railway service between east and west was restricted to some (circa 5 between BRD and DDR, and about the same number between DDR and West-Berlin) well controlled and secured checkpoints. Between the BRD and West-Berlin existed 4 Transit-routes citizens of West-Berlin and West-Germany could use without (much) hassle from DDR-Authorities.

In 1989 the wall fell. Soon afterwards, the train frequency on open railway lines between east and west was put up and closed lines crossing the former border were opened again to suit the masses of germans exploring their freshly gained freedom.

On October 3, 1990, Germany became reunited. The DB and DR, however, didn't. Due to administrative and organisational problems, and due to the plan to take the opportunity and reform the organisation of germanys railways, their unification was postponed until 1994, when the so called Bahnreform [railways reform] came into effect and the Deutsche Bundesbahn and the Deutsche Reichsbahn formed the Deutsche Bahn AG (DBAG) [German Railways Inc.], which is usually referred to as Deutsche Bahn (DB) [German Railways]. DBAG ist still fully owned by the Federal Government, but has it's own mangement and is allowed (and expected) to operate like a Company. It was expected that privatisation and the opening of German tracks to other railway companies would push competition and efficency and eventually lead to higher quality standards and lower costs.

Even so it appears to be one big firm, the DBAG is essentially a holding, that owns and manages some semi-independent subsidiaries:

DBNetz

owns and maintains all tracks

DBStation+Service

responsible for station buildings including platforms, Ticket sales and general service

DBReise+Touristik

operates long-distance trains

DBRegio

operates short and medium distance trains and commuter service

BRG (Bahnreinigungsgesellschaft [Railway cleaning company])

does exactly that...

BSG (Bahnschutzgesellschaft [Ralway protection company])

employs and provides personell for safety patrolls in ralway stations and trains (mostly at night)

DBImmobilien

manages all real estate

Mitropa

operates (the now disappearing) restaurant cars and resaurants and snack stands inside stations