April 5 (Reuters) - Germany's Deutsche Bahn is

drawing up a list of cost-cutting measures to mitigate billions

of euros in losses and ballooning debt, two company sources told

Reuters on Friday.

One of the sources referred to the measures as an "emergency

brake" for the state-owned company, which has faced a series of

strikes, wage increases and pressure to modernize its outdated

infrastructure.

According to the sources, the measures stipulate that all

new hires and expenditures, including business travel, be

approved by management going forward.

"A hiring freeze and an almost group-wide spending freeze

are being prepared," a company source told Reuters.

The measures would affect all of Deutsche Bahn's business

areas except for its logistics subsidiary Schenker, which is

currently up for sale, the sources said.

A Deutsche Bahn spokesperson declined to comment on the

information.

A board decision regarding the changes could be taken as

early as Tuesday, the sources said.

Net losses at Deutsche Bahn widened to nearly 2.4 billion

euros ($2.60 billion) in 2023, while its net financial debt

ballooned to 34 billion euros.

($1 = 0.9228 euros)