Deutsche Bahn’s once-admired service has descended into chaos. Whether decades of poor investment or the company’s unusual structure is to blame, it’s a huge headache for a coalition trying to meet climate goals

Deutsche Bahn’s once-admired service has descended into chaos. Whether decades of poor investment or the company’s unusual structure is to blame, it’s a huge headache for a coalition trying to meet climate goals

The sleek high-speed train is 10 minutes behind schedule when it slides into Cologne’s main station before continuing its journey north to Dortmund. The delay is now such a common occurrence that the train manager does not even both to mention it to disembarking passengers.

In late afternoon on an unremarkable weekday in this western German city, holidaymakers are hauling suitcases through the station, workers are commuting home, and the late arrival of Deutsche Bahn’s IC 118 from Innsbruck is no surprise.

It does cause annoyance, though: a glance at the departures and arrivals board prompts one middle-aged man carrying a backpack to swear loudly as he enters the station.

  • muntedcrocodile@lemmy.worldEnglish
    194·
    1 year ago

    Hahaha 10minutes what a travesty hpw abput u come to australia where u will be lucky to see a train and if a bus is 30minutes late its one time.

    • ParsnipWitch@feddit.deEnglish
      101·
      1 year ago

      I have no idea why they took an example of 10 minutes late in the article. Trains with several hours delay or getting cancelled completely is common in Germany.

      • CitizenKong@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        1 year ago

        Or my favourite: One train getting canceled and all the passengers getting put into the next train to the same destination together with all the passengers already in said train. Which leads to fun times for everyone.