Delays are always a nuisance for train travelers – but particularly long delays of over an hour were rare on long-distance trains last year. Significant delays of 60 minutes or more occurred in 2.4 percent of stops, as the Federal Ministry of Transport responded to a request from the Union parliamentary group, according to Deutsche Bahn. Delays of 15 minutes or more occurred in 18.3 percent of stops and 30 minutes or more in 8.6 percent of stops.
In 2023, there were an average of 823 trips per day with 7,372 arrival stops in the federally owned group’s entire long-distance transport with ICE and Intercity. The arrival times at all train stations are taken into account in the statistics on operational punctuality. Every stop that is reached less than 5:59 minutes late is included in the statistics as being on time. Last year, 64 percent of long-distance train stops were reached on time, as the railway had already announced. The ministry announced that the company has set a punctuality target of 71.5 percent for long-distance transport this year.
Last year, 2.7 percent of the planned trips were canceled completely and without replacement along the entire route – taking into account all internal and external influencing factors such as strikes. In principle, once trains with passengers have started, they do not turn back, the federal government explained in its response. If the planned route cannot be continued due to a closure, there will be diversions. If that doesn’t work either, end the journey at a station on the way. Then alternative travel options would be sought.
