DB to recruit 5,200 new apprentices and dual students in 2026
Deutsche Bahn will recruit around 5,200 apprentices and dual students in 2026, sustaining one of Europe’s largest vocational rail training programmes despite a slight decrease from 5,700 in 2025.
The railway opened applications on 26 October, confirming job guarantees upon completion and maintaining its focus on operational and technical disciplines critical to Germany’s infrastructure modernisation.
The 2026 intake continues DB’s strategic workforce renewal under its Starke Schiene plan. The 2024 cohort reached a record 6,000 trainees following post-pandemic acceleration, while 2025 saw 5,700 recruits. The railway offers 50 vocational programmes and 25 dual-study paths across Germany.
Focus on operational and technical skills
DB will recruit approximately 1,000 trainees in traffic control operations, 850 train drivers, 1,000 infrastructure maintenance specialists in electronics and mechatronics, and 700 rolling-stock maintenance technicians. Main training hubs include Berlin, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich.
Around 90% of graduates remain within DB after completion. Most trainees will work for DB InfraGO, the unified infrastructure entity overseeing track, signals, and stations since 2024, and supporting Germany’s ERTMS and capacity expansion agenda.
“Even in times of change, we attach the greatest importance to our young professionals. We offer them a permanent contract once they have successfully completed their training,” said Martin Seiler, DB Board Member for Human Resources.
Why it matters: The recruitment supports DB’s restructuring under InfraGO, which consolidated infrastructure operations in January 2024 as part of Europe’s largest railway reform. The skilled workforce is essential for executing EUR 40 billion in modernisation projects aimed at reversing years of declining punctuality.
What’s next: Applications are open now. Training begins autumn 2026 under DB InfraGO and DB Training.