European Railway Station Index 2023 - Germany takes first place (again): these are the worst train stations in Europe
Deutsche Bahn is not necessarily known for its punctuality; it was only in November that it broke its own unpunctuality record: Every second train was late. This is the company's worst reliability score in eight years. Unfortunately, this not only affects the company and the journeys of many commuters, but also the image of German railroad stations, as the current"European Railway Station Index 2023" shows. According to the index, German railroad stations rank last in Europe when it comes to passenger satisfaction.
For the analysis, which has already taken place for the fourth time, the 50 largest railroad stations in Europe in terms of passenger volume were examined more closely according to certain criteria. These included the opening hours of ticket counters, on-site catering facilities, the condition of sanitary facilities - and waiting times on the platform. German stations performed significantly worse than their competitors in other countries, particularly in the last point. Although a total of 21 of the stations analyzed are located in Germany, Germany still comes last in the ranking.
Germany comes in last place
The most passenger-friendly station is therefore in Switzerland. With 102 points, the main station in Zurich comes in first place, followed by the main station in Vienna and the main station in Berlin. Frankfurt Central Station comes in sixth place with 87 points - after that, no German station appears in the ranking. The ranking continues with Leipzig (13th place), Cologne (18th place) and Munich (22nd place). Although this is bad news for Germany, the index does contain some positive trends overall. According to the authors of the study, all stations have improved over the course of the year and therefore achieved a higher score than in the previous year.
Germany, however, repeatedly came last. And the authors also have an idea of what is still lacking at German stations. They see one reason, for example, in the introduction of the Deutschlandticket. This has pushed local transport far beyond its capacity, which has led to greater congestion and longer waiting times at stations. And this in turn, of course, has a lasting effect on passenger satisfaction - especially in Germany.
The five most passenger-friendly stations in 2023
1st place: Zurich
2nd place: Vienna
3rd place: Berlin
4th place: Bern
5th place: Utrecht Centraal
The five most passenger-unfriendly stations in 2023
1st place: Bremen
2nd place: Munich Pasing
3rd place: Berlin Zoologischer Garten
4th place: Berlin Gesundbrunnen
5th place: Berlin-Ostkreuz
Read also:
- Despite Germany's poor performance in the 2023 European Railway Station Index, it's worth noting that several German stations, such as Munich, are included in the list of 50 largest railroad stations in Europe.
- Unsurprisingly, Germany's lowest ranking in the index might be influenced by the increased congestion and longer waiting times at stations due to the popular Deutschlandticket.
- Interestingly, the most passenger-friendly stations in Europe, as ranked by the index, include Zurich, Vienna, and Berlin, which are all located in different countries within Europe.
- For commuters looking for a more pleasant rail travel experience, it's worth considering taking a train from Zurich's main station, which topped the 2023 index.
- Travelers planning a trip through Europe might want to consider visiting stations like Vienna's and Berlin's main stations, both of which rank higher in passenger satisfaction than German stations.
Source: www.stern.de
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