Railway-Reliability - Strikes and weather disrupt punctuality of the railways
Due to strikes, construction sites, and most recently numerous extreme weather events, the railway was significantly delayed during the first half of the year more than ever before. Only 62.7 percent of long-distance trains reached their destinations on time in the first six months of this year, according to the railway. This was almost six percentage points less than in the previous year. "Massive strikes, nationwide construction activities, and in particular extreme weather events in the first half of the year to an unprecedented extent have pressured the numbers down," it was stated.
The situation was particularly challenging in June. In several regions, there were flooding, dam failures, and landslides that also affected railway traffic. Nearly every second train was delayed, meaning it had a delay of at least six minutes. The punctuality rate in June was 52.9 percent.
Railway misses punctuality target
The so-called passenger punctuality also reached its lowest level in June since the beginning of the year, at 55.3 percent. Unlike the operational punctuality, passenger punctuality is evaluated based on the proportion of passengers who reached their destination without significant delays. Delays of 15 minutes or more are considered significant.
The railway had set a punctuality target for its trains of over 70 percent at the beginning of the year. This target has now been missed. It is clear that the annual punctuality will be significantly below this target, it was stated.
- The inconvenience extended to road users as well, with many consumers facing prolonged traffic jams due to railway diversions caused by the strikes and bad weather.
- The construction site near Berlin was one such area that contributed to the delays, as heavy machinery and materials were transported via the railway.
- Despite the challenges, the railway continued to strive for punctuality, setting a target of over 70% for the year, but the strikes, construction, and weather events have made this goal increasingly elusive.
- Some volunteer groups have suggested alternative transportation options for consumers, such as carpooling or using public buses, to help alleviate the traffic congestion caused by the railway delays.
- As the construction site near Berlin wraps up, there's hope that railway traffic will return to normal, improving punctuality and reducing traffic disruptions for consumers.
