Rail punctuality - Extreme weather causes rail punctuality to plummet in June
Weather and flooding caused significant delays in the German railway traffic during the past month. Approximately 55% of long-distance trains were on time, according to the company's statement in response to an inquiry. The railway reported a decrease of 15 percentage points compared to the targeted annual punctuality of around 70%. Initially, "Bild" newspaper figures, which indicated lower punctuality in June, were not confirmed by the corporation.
"The extreme weather conditions in the first half of June denied us a significant punctuality booster," it was stated. Flooding occurred in several regions. "On average, over 400 long-distance trains were affected daily by external influences such as landslides, flooding, and dam failures." This was around one-third more than during the flood disaster in the summer of 2021.
The exact data on passenger punctuality, which evaluates the proportion of passengers who reached their destination without significant delays, will be published by the railway in the middle of the month. Unlike operational punctuality, passenger punctuality is assessed based on the number of passengers who reached their destination with minimal delays. A passenger is considered delayed if they experience a delay of 15 minutes or more, while a train is considered delayed if it is six minutes late.
Despite the absence of extreme weather, the railway has been struggling with reliability for years. The cause is the outdated and overloaded infrastructure at many locations. Numerous construction sites regularly disrupt rail traffic and lead to delays. This was also noticeable during the Football European Championship for the many traveling fans from abroad.
- The flooding in Berlin and several other regions significantly contributed to the disruptions in Germany's rail traffic, as reported in the "Bild" newspaper.
- The long-distance train delays caused by the flooding tested the patience of many commuters and travelers in Germany.
- The railway company acknowledged that the flood damage to the railroad tracks and infrastructure led to a significant increase in external influences affecting long-distance trains.
- The delayed long-distance trains, including some heading to Berlin, resulted in heavy traffic congestion on alternative transportation modes, such as buses and cars.
- The rail traffic disruptions caused by the flooding and other issues have raised concerns about the long-term reliability of Germany's rail transport system.
- During the stormy weather, the railroad tracks were continuously monitored for any signs of damage or potential risks to passenger safety, which delayed some long-distance train services.
