German Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder urges Deutsche Bahn to boost punctuality

Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder told press that improving train punctuality is not only about investing in infrastructure but also about fixing internal operational processes. He said that when a train arrives late to the depot, staffing for cleaning must be increased, adding that “it is not only a question of investment, there are also operational processes that must be improved.”

The government will continue to channel billions of euros from a debt‑financed special fund into modernising the aging rail network. Deutsche Bahn chief Evelyn Palla has asked for an additional €13 billion by 2030 to meet punctuality targets. The minister praised her restructuring steps and noted the ambition to have at least 70 % of ICE and Intercity services run without major delays by end‑2029, while only 52.6 % were on time in June.

A key element of the plan is the “generalsanierung” programme, which aims to close and fully refurbish more than 40 major lines by the mid‑2030s. Recent delays on the Hamburg‑Berlin and Nuremberg‑Regensburg routes have drawn criticism. Schnieder announced a review of the corridor‑renovation concept, including whether four major renovations per year are appropriate, and warned that continued failures could erode public confidence in the state.