The rail chaos simply won't let go of the EM

*The European Championship in Germany excites football fans. After 36 out of 51 games, there are many insights, not just sportingly. We look back at the group stage off the pitch. The UEFA and organizers, including tournament chief Philipp Lahm, had announced in advance that this would be the most sustainable EM in history. How the implementation with the German Railways and local public transportation runs, the mood in and around the stadiums, and what happened on the fan miles, read here.

How big is the Bahn chaos now?

It's at least as big that the German Railways had to respond. "We understand the anger and criticism from fans," said Board Member and Long-Distance Rail Chief Michael Peterson and announced that their employer currently does not offer the quality that everyone deserves. With special EM tickets - the train fare to the venue is fixed at 29.90 Euro - fans were supposed to be won over for train travel. An additional 10,000 seating places were announced daily, and construction work was arranged so that it would not cause delays or disruptions. However, even after the group match between Portugal and the Czech Republic, there were still hundreds of fans who waited good 40 minutes at Leipzig Station (due to delay from previous journey) and then another 20 minutes before Berlin Südkreuz (due to a single-track section on the line) - problems were much bigger elsewhere.

The most prominent delay was experienced by Philipp Lahm: the tournament chief missed the kick-off of the Ukraine vs. Slovakia match. He criticized the outdated infrastructure, which the railways have been fighting for years. "But this is not a problem that is happening now during the tournament. We should have worked on it much earlier," the former pro appealed not only to the organizers but also to politics and remained determined to continue traveling by train. A New York Times reporter complained about jammed subways in Munich, Scottish fans reported on "unreliable and scorching hot" trains in Munich and Cologne. The English Daily Mail saw "appalling scenes" in Gelsenkirchen, where thousands of fans had to wait long hours to leave the stadium by tram.

And yet, many things are running smoothly: Many a fan, for example, reports positively surprised by the diverse offerings in the on-board bars, which invite to understanding and sociability before the games. An Austrian who traveled to the group match against Poland by train to Berlin was thrilled about the affordable fare and relaxed journey. Anecdotal evidence, but still. And despite all the complaints about delays and the like: A seamless journey is rather the exception for a good story.

Is it running smoothly around the stadiums?

The volunteers are almost always there with a smile and great readiness to help, which is noticeable. What is also striking: That despite all the efforts to provide good signage, directions & Co., many sensible signs have been left on the route.*

The guidance at the stadiums confuses some people here and there, especially during this EM where only a few fans may have been on site before. The long queues at the entrance sometimes surprise, as football matches regularly take place before tens of thousands in all stadiums. Yet, the masses of people still gather before the Berlin Olympic Stadium, which seems avoidable. However, this at least means that all visitors have learned the term "Vereinzelungsanlage" - the one that suddenly appeared to guide the crowds into orderly lanes.

Once the ticket was scanned, the body checked, and the bag controlled, the most strenuous part was accomplished. On the stadium grounds, fans were welcomed by numerous and always helpful stewardesses and stewards who had an answer for almost every question or at least knew who could contribute to problem-solving. At the food stands, the usual queues could be observed, but it usually went quickly - and those who went a few meters further could be lucky and get there even noticeably faster.

What is the mood like at the games?

It sounds clichéd, but it truly feels like what many hoped for from the EM: a football festival. The streets around the stadiums are dipped in the colors of the two teams for hours before the game, without major rivalries arising, for the most part. It's more about friendly coexistence, including football-typical, usually harmless provocations. An illustrative example of this is the video of Albanian fans breaking spaghetti before the game against title defenders Italy, under great laughter. A supposed sin that functioned as a hilarious joking matter.

The collective singing of national anthems is always a goosebump moment. Whoever has experienced the passion with which French or Italian fans sing the Marseillaise or "Il Canto degli Italiani" cannot forget it - the Spaniards have gotten used to singing along silently with their textless hymn. The Austrians have established "Oh, how beautiful" in the stadium again, the Dutch brought "Links rechts" from Snollebollekes as one of the EM hits to Germany. During the duel of the two in Berlin, "Pyrotechnics are not a crime" from the "Balkonultra" was sung in circulation.

This list could be continued almost indefinitely: The Scots left a deep impression, leading to a petition demanding an annual friendly match with the German national team. For Turkey, the EM is a felt home tournament, the two appearances provided great images. And after the two victories, there were autokorso celebrations throughout Germany. For special moments, the war-wounded Ukrainian women and men, who were invited to attend the games, left an indelible mark.

Less attractive: The right-wing shift in Europe is also noticeable during the EM. Since the start of the tournament, there have been numerous nationalist and far-right incidents. Hate posters on stadium walls, insults, open racism, politically motivated confrontations: The EM 2024 is also a showcase for extremists. For example, in the Austrian fan block during the game against Poland, a banner with the inscription "Defend Europe" was held up, a slogan of the far-right Identitarian Movement. Albanian and Croatian fans reportedly shouted together at the group game in Hamburg: "Ubi Srbina!" ("Kill Serbs!").

Serbian fans, on the other hand, brought flags into the stadiums during their three group games, on which the outlines of Kosovo could be seen, colored in the colors of the Serbian coat of arms. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 - Belgrade does not recognize this. Serbian fans are also reportedly cheered on former generals - and war criminals. Among Turkish fans, the so-called Wolf's Salute is frequently displayed, a hand gesture and symbol of the Grey Wolves. This is a far-right, anti-Semitic, and racist movement, to which more than 12,000 supporters are attributed in Germany. The truth is that these incidents receive little international attention.

And how about the fan zones, how is it going there?

For the EM organizers, the images of the large crowds, for example, at the Brandenburg Gate, on the Heiligengeistfeld in Hamburg, or on the Main river in Frankfurt, are a calming confirmation. "We have worked hard to ensure that we can experience these festivities in such a way that one has a positive feeling, that one encounters positively, that one understands each other," said tournament chief Philipp Lahm already weeks ago in Leipzig. For him, it was always clear: "As soon as the ball rolls, there is this euphoria."

The English "Guardian" published a photo series with motifs "off the pitch," which also show the peaceful coexistence of fan groups. "The football fans from the various nations create a unique and exceptional atmosphere in the city," shared the organizers of the Cologne fan zones as an example. The police are on duty with large contingents, the German Red Cross drew a positive interim balance for the first EM days.

However, this was overshadowed by a confrontation at the last group stage game in the Stuttgart fan zone. After a stabbing attack during the game Czech Republic against Turkey, a 25-year-old man is now in custody. Three people were injured on a Monday evening. According to the prosecutor's office, he is accused of attempted murder. Among the injured were a 19-year-old German and two 38 and 60-year-old Turkish nationals. The seriously injured 38-year-old man is now out of danger, it was reported. The further backgrounds and circumstances of the crime are the subject of further investigations.

Despite the delays experienced by some fans, including tournament chief Philipp Lahm, he remains determined to continue traveling by train for the European Football Championship 2024 in Germany.
The previous group stage match between Portugal and the Czech Republic at Leipzig Station saw hundreds of fans waiting for over 40 minutes due to delays from the previous journey and another 20 minutes at Berlin Südkreuz.
The outdated infrastructure is a concern for Lahm, as German Railways has been fighting to improve it for years, but he believes it should have been addressed earlier.
Scottish fans reported on "unreliable and scorching hot" trains in Munich and Cologne during the European Championship, while English Daily Mail saw "appalling scenes" in Gelsenkirchen.
With the implementation of the European Football Championship 2024, Philipp Lahm and the organizers aimed for the most sustainable EM in history, focusing on sustainable transportation and reducing waste at fan miles.
Investments in infrastructure have been made to support the large number of visitors during the European Championship, including the addition of 10,000 seating places and construction work to minimize delays.
Alongside the concerns about transportation, many things are running smoothly in the European Championship, with positive experiences reported from fans traveling by train, such as affordable fares and diverse onboard offerings.
During an international match between Germany and Spain at Munich's Allianz Arena, Philipp Lahm made an appearance to encourage fans to use public transportation to the stadium, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in hosting the European Football Championship 2024.