According to data published by the German railway operator Deutsche Bahn, punctuality issues with its trains persisted last year.
In 2024, 62.5% of Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance trains (ICE and IC) arrived at their destination stations within six minutes of the scheduled arrival time. This figure is slightly worse than in 2023, when 64% of long-distance trains arrived on time.
Deutsche Bahn listed several reasons why punctuality in Germany’s rail transport has continued to decline since 2021.
The railway operator stated that “outdated and overloaded infrastructure” has caused numerous disruptions, while a high volume of construction work has destabilized schedules.
DB also noted increased traffic at major transportation hubs, which places additional strain on infrastructure.
Among the reasons for delays, the company also cited the “tight labor market,” which, according to DB, has made it difficult to meet staffing needs. Additionally, DB reported that extreme weather conditions have compounded the issue: flooding in southern Germany in June 2024 caused significant damage to infrastructure.
The company announced that it has developed an “action plan to improve punctuality” to address the situation.
