Deutsche Bahn: Punctuality in long-distance transport continues to decline

In September, almost every second Deutsche Bahn long-distance train was delayed. According to preliminary data, the punctuality rate deteriorated from 54.2 percent in August to 52.4 percent last month, the railway said. The reason given was that the high construction workload in traffic junctions and on main routes as well as a persistently high number of system malfunctions reduced punctuality, especially in long-distance long-distance traffic.

The punctuality values ​​in long-distance rail transport fell to 52.6 percent with the first heat wave in June and remained at this level in July. In May, 61.1 percent of trains were on time and in April 64.4 percent. Railway boss Evelyn Palla has set a punctuality target of at least 60 percent in long-distance transport for the current year. It is already foreseeable that this goal will not be achieved.

Between Berlin and Wolfsburg, for example, ICE trains would have had to travel slower in many places because of the poor condition of the routes, the railway explained. That's why it began extensive renovation work on the important route between Berlin and Hanover in October. The route is expected to be closed to long-distance traffic until the end of 2027. Travel time on the important east-west corridor will be extended by 80 minutes due to diversions. Buses are used as a replacement for local transport.