The statistics for this year are not yet complete, but a first query by the Union faction in the Bundestag shows: In the summer months this year, the train only achieves underground punctuality rates. On some routes only every second train arrives according to the timetable.
Deutsche Bahn could have been more unpunctual this year than ever before. This is reported by the "Rheinische Post", citing a response from the federal government to a small request from the Union faction. Accordingly, in the months of May to September, the punctuality rate on many long-distance routes was only 50 to 60 percent.
"In the opinion of the federal government, the current development of punctuality is not satisfactory," says the statement. In September in the west of the country only 55 percent of the ICE and IC trains were on time, in August 48 percent. According to the information, in the east it was almost 68 percent in September and 63 percent in August. The railway lists its quotas by region and not by federal state.
"The train's punctuality rates have reached a historic low," said the transport policy spokesman for the Union faction, Thomas Bareiß, of the "Rheinische Post". While in 2020 and 2021 long-distance trains would have achieved an average punctuality rate of 75 to 90 percent, "this year most routes are between 50 and 60 percent". If something does not change in the development soon, then "the high loads in rail traffic will also have serious consequences for Germany as a business location," he warned.
