Long-distance trains - DB punctuality: worst figure for eight years
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is more unpunctual in long-distance transportation than it has been for eight years. Last month, every second long-distance train operated by the state-owned company was late. In November, only 52 percent of ICE and IC trains reached their destination on time, a DB spokesperson told Bild am Sonntag.
The main reason for this was the "short-term construction activity", which had increased significantly compared to the previous year. Around 75 percent of long-distance trains were slowed down by at least one construction site. Due to the considerable renovation backlog, DB has had to significantly increase the construction volume in the current year.
This year, an additional two billion euros have been invested, according to the rail company. From next year, "many smaller construction measures will be bundled into compact corridor renovations".
Canceled trains are not included in the statistics
"Punctuality does not meet our own standards and does not live up to the services that our passengers rightly expect from us," said the spokesperson.
A train is considered punctual if it is less than six minutes late. Canceled trains are not included in the statistics. Missed connections are also not included. In October, the Group's ICE and IC trains only reached 58.6 percent of their stops without major delays.
Deutsche Bahn will clearly miss the punctuality target it has set itself for this year. At the beginning of the year, the Group had set itself a punctuality target of well over 70 percent for long-distance services. "With a punctuality rate of around 66 percent in the first ten months, it is clear that the punctuality target of around 70 percent for 2023 can no longer be achieved," it said at the beginning of November.
It has been known for years that Deutsche Bahn has a problem with punctuality, especially in international comparison. The problem has recently worsened: the figure fell from 75.2 percent in 2021 to 65.2 percent last year.
Read also:
- Despite investing an additional two billion euros this year, German Railways (DB) is struggling to maintain their long-direction traffic punctuality, with only 52% of ICE and IC trains arriving on time in November.
- The poor punctuality of DB's long-distance trains can be partly attributed to the increased "short-term construction activity," which has resulted in 75% of trains being delayed by at least one construction site.
- The Berlin-Cologne express train (BamS), a key long-distance railroad service, also experienced delays last month, contributing to the overall decrease in punctuality.
- German Railways has announced plans to bundle "many smaller construction measures into compact corridor renovations" starting from next year in an effort to improve traffic conditions and reduce delays.
- The German government has expressed concern over the decreasing punctuality of DB's long-distance traffic, as the lack of timely trains can have a significant impact on travelers, businesses, and the German economy as a whole.
Source: www.stern.de
