DB AG main sponsor of RUHR.2010 as Capital of Culture

Deutsche Bahn supports the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 with an overall package of mobility and logistics services

(Berlin, 4 March 2009) Deutsche Bahn plans to contribute a comprehensive package of services towards the activities of RUHR.2010 as European Capital of Culture. This was announced by the DB Group at a joint press conference with RUHR.2010 GmbH held in Essen today. “RUHR.2010 is an important event for Deutsche Bahn, as it gives us a chance to present our company as one of the world’s leading providers of mobility and logistics services to a wide public from all areas of Germany and Europe,” said Reiner Latsch, Corporate Representative of DB AG for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

“A cultural event like RUHR.2010 depends on top-quality sponsors. We are delighted to have succeeded in winning DB as the main sponsor of RUHR.2010. This cooperation will enable us to keep environmental impact to a minimum when implementing our programme, especially in the case of mass events,” stated Fritz Pleitgen, Chairman of the Management Board of RUHR.2010 GmbH.

Deutsche Bahn’s commitment involves both financial and non-financial support, provided across the entire corporate product portfolio. In its capacity as “Official Logistics Partner of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010”, DB Schenker will contribute highly diverse transport and logistics services. The company has appointed one of its logistics specialists to advise RUHR.2010 GmbH directly in all aspects of logistics. The DB Schenker Logistics Centre in Essen will coordinate the services for RUHR.2010 and bundle transports efficiently, so as to avoid unnecessary truck trips. Amongst other things, DB Schenker will handle the logistics services for the opening ceremony and for other major events organised by RUHR.2010. “This commitment will demonstrate that we are the prime logistics partner in this region,” stated Dr. Thomas C. Lieb, Chairman of the Board of Schenker AG.

The DB Passenger Transport Division, as Official Mobility Partner, will offer a range of attractive regional and inter-regional transport products for RUHR.2010. Deutsche Bahn will also promote the events in the cultural capital by operating a range of local mobility products, such as the popular DB bicycle rental system Call a Bike, in the five main host cities of RUHR.2010, Duisburg, Oberhausen, Essen, Bochum and Dortmund, and also in the nearby cities of Hagen and Hamm. “We are also planning to run a pilot project for our innovative e-ticketing system Touch&Travel in cooperation with the state of North-Rhine Westphalia in the course of RUHR.2010. In this system, the passenger’s mobile phone serves as a ticket,” explained Hans-Hugo Schnöring, Head of Projects and Programmes for Passenger Transport at DB. The pilot project will involve the installation of around 1500 reading devices at more than 80 stops along

DB and Essener Verkehrs AG transport lines.

The major railway stations in the Ruhr Metropolitan Area will be refurbished into attractive transport hubs well before the launch of RUHR.2010. Essen central station will be completed by the end of 2009 and the passenger buildings at the central stations in Dortmund and Duisburg will also be given a new look by 2010.
Information for photo journalists:
As from 16 h today, pictures of the contract being signed in Essen can be downloaded from the photo database at www.db.de/foto, “New pictures” and from the RUHR.2010 GmbH website, www.ruhr.2010.de.