More than a third of long-haul trains operated by the rail corporation encounter delays. - One out of every three long-haul trains on the railway system experiences delay
Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national railway company, has faced challenges in maintaining punctuality for long-distance trains during the first half of 2025. Only 63.4% of trains, including ICE, IC, and EuroCity, arrived on time, marking a significant drop compared to previous years [1].
The primary causes for the punctuality issues are equipment malfunctions, unplanned construction work, and ongoing network modernization [1]. More than a third (34.7%) of DB's long-distance trains were delayed, arriving more than six minutes late at their final destination [1].
To address these issues, Deutsche Bahn has initiated comprehensive renovations on key routes, such as the Berlin-Hamburg corridor. The nine-month closure, starting on August 1, 2025, aims to fully refurbish this important corridor, serving as a significant test for DB's construction strategies [2]. The goal is to renew ageing infrastructure, improve the reliability of the route, and ultimately boost punctuality.
However, improvements are expected to be gradual and modest initially. The Berlin-Hamburg renovation alone is unlikely to cause a significant immediate improvement; further general refurbishments are planned for 2026 to continue enhancing infrastructure integrity and service reliability [2].
Passengers have expressed urgent demand for better punctuality, with only 57.1% of long-distance stops on time in June 2025 [2]. In the first half of the year, 68.7% of passengers reached their destination with a maximum delay of 14 minutes and 59 seconds [1].
Deutsche Bahn is focusing on general renovations of heavily used tracks and closer coordination of construction sites with the timetable to improve punctuality [2]. The company aims for a punctuality rate of 65 to 70% in long-distance traffic for the entire year [2].
Despite these efforts, there has not yet been a significant improvement in the punctuality rate compared to the first half of 2024, when the rate was 62.7% [1]. However, the company remains committed to long-term service quality enhancements amidst complex infrastructure challenges [1][2].
By 2036, more than 40 routes are planned to be made fit for the future through general renovations [1]. After the renovation, there should be fewer disruptions and several years of construction-free operation on the important connection [2].
Sources: [1] Deutsche Welle (2025). Deutsche Bahn struggles with punctuality in 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/deutsche-bahn-struggles-with-punctuality-in-2025/a-57421410 [2] The Local (2025). Deutsche Bahn to renovate Berlin-Hamburg route in nine-month closure. [online] Available at: https://www.thelocal.de/20250701/deutsche-bahn-to-renovate-berlin-hamburg-route-in-nine-month-closure
- In response to punctuality issues, Deutsche Bahn's community policy includes plans for comprehensive renovations on key routes, such as vocational training for workers involved in infrastructure maintenance, to ensure the reliability and punctuality of their long-distance trains.
- To establish a strong connection between the rail industry and finance, Deutsche Bahn is considering the implementation of a vocational training program to educate its workers on finance management, possibly aiding in cost-effective solutions for public-transit transportation and automotive projects.
- With improvements in transportation, such as the refurbishment of the Berlin-Hamburg corridor, the company aims to encourage other sectors, like the automotive industry, to invest in public-transit systems and adopt eco-friendly measures, fostering sustainability in inner-city transportation networks.
