DB

abbreviationStandard termRailroad

The state-owned national railway company of Germany.

Deutsche Bahn, the state-owned railway operator of Germany. It manages the vast majority of the German rail network, operating both passenger and freight services. While primarily a European entity, its freight and logistics subsidiaries have a massive global footprint.

Heard on the job

The new DB locomotives are equipped with the European Train Control System.

Insider tip

In North American operating contexts, DB almost always stands for Dynamic Braking, not Deutsche Bahn.