Deutsche Bahn: Every third long-distance train is delayed
Just under a third of long-distance trains in Germany were delayed in the first half of this year, the highest level since 2009, according to the Federal Railway Authority (EBA).
Punctuality has been declining for years, and the problem is particularly acute on weekends and during peak travel times.
The EBA’s figures show that 29.4 percent of long-distance trains were delayed in the first six months of this year, up from 27.2 percent in the same period last year. The average delay was 8.6 minutes, also up from 8.1 minutes last year.
The worst-performing operator was Flixtrain, with 46.5 percent of its trains delayed. It was followed by Deutsche Bahn’s ICE trains (30.9 percent) and its IC trains (28.6 percent).
The EBA said the main causes of delays were track works (35 percent), technical faults (22 percent), and operational disruptions (18 percent).
The decline in punctuality has been blamed on a number of factors, including increasing traffic on the rail network, a shortage of staff, and the growing complexity of the railway system.
Deutsche Bahn has pledged to improve punctuality, and has announced a number of measures to address the problem, including investing in new trains and infrastructure, and hiring more staff.
For passengers, the delays can be frustrating and time-consuming. They can also lead to missed appointments and lost wages.
Deutsche Bahn has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the delays, and has urged passengers to check the latest train times before traveling.
The company has also set up a website where passengers can track the progress of their train in real time.
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E. Thompson
