One in three long-distance trains delayed. A national railway system in chaos. For a country that prides itself on engineering excellence, Deutsche Bahn’s performance in 2024 is nothing short of a disgrace.
What went wrong?
- Decades of neglect: While Germany built Autobahnen and airports, its railways were left to rot. The result? A crumbling infrastructure that can’t handle today’s demands.
- Chronic mismanagement: Billions in subsidies vanish into a black hole of inefficiency, bureaucracy, and poor leadership. Where’s the accountability?
- Empty promises: DB talks about investments and modernization, but passengers still endure overcrowded trains, delays, and unreliable service.
Beyond delays: A blow to Germany’s global image. Germany sells itself as a leader in sustainability and precision engineering, yet its flagship railway system fails spectacularly at the basics. How can a country demand climate action when its own trains push passengers back to cars and planes?
The hard truth: Deutsche Bahn doesn’t just need more funding—it needs a complete cultural and operational reset. Stop blaming "external factors." Start delivering results. The patience of passengers, businesses, and the global community is wearing thin.
This isn’t just a DB problem—it’s a crisis for Germany. Will 2025 finally bring accountability and competence to the tracks, or are we doomed to watch Europe’s most powerful economy ride its rail system into irrelevance?