Deutsche Bahn reports low long-distance punctuality in September

Deutsche Bahn reported that long-distance train punctuality remained low in September, with a punctuality rate of only 52.4 percent. This figure represents the second-worst monthly value of the current year.

The company attributed the delays to a high number of technical malfunctions and poor track conditions. For example, ICE trains traveling between Berlin and Wolfsburg were forced to slow down due to the state of the tracks. Extensive renovation work on the Hannover-Berlin corridor has also caused disruptions; this section is currently closed for upgrades that are expected to continue until mid-December 2027, resulting in travel times increasing by approximately 80 minutes between Berlin and Hannover.

Passenger punctuality, which accounts for delays of up to 14 minutes and 59 seconds, stood at 58.6 percent. Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla had set a target of at least 60 percent for long-distance travel this year, a goal that now appears unlikely to be met. The company is currently undertaking massive infrastructure renovations across dozens of heavily used routes, a process expected to last into the 2030s.