'Improve punctuality': How Germany plans to fix its crisis-hit trains

Rail passengers in Germany have seen punctuality rates plummet in recent years. In June it was reported that only around half of long-distance trains arrived at their destination on time.

Operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) has pledged to improve the railway network by investing €16.4 billion in an infrastructure programme over the next six years. 

But this week, Transport Minister Volker Wissing brought several demands to the table aimed at making German train travel more efficient.

Now that the track refurbishment is underway, Wissing said: "Deutsche Bahn must deliver now," adding that he wants to "see an improvement by 2027”.

Wissing said the goal is for Deutsche Bahn to be "optimally positioned" and become a "reliable mode of transport".

Here's a look at the main points of the plan:

• Improve punctuality, bringing it up to a top level comparable to international standards. Wissing also said DB has to be punctual even when there are extreme weather conditions
• Improve the capacity utilisation of long-distance trains
• Review management and cut administration
• Review investments outside of infrastructure modernisation
• Improve the efficiency of the rail network operator ‘InfraGo’
• Driving forward digitalisation
• Risk management in climate change

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Job cuts and no cancellation of train routes

As well as the focus on punctuality, Wissing is calling for better capacity usage of long-distance trains and fewer management staff.

According to the FDP minister, the operator currently has "too much administration". Wissing said there should be fewer bosses in management and more staff in operations.

DB already announced at the end of July that it plans to cut around 30,000 jobs within five years - mainly in administration.

Wissing also cited cost efficiency in the procurement of materials and on construction sites as one of the most important goals. He added that all areas, including long-distance transport and DB Cargo, are in deficit and there is a need for improvement.

Saving targets should not, however, lead to unprofitable rail routes being axed. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz, of the CDU, suggested in July that the route network should be thinned out to improve punctuality. But Wissing said this "cannot be the aspiration of a company like ours" and that DB should instead run a tightly synchronised operation on time as part of the restructuring project. 

To achieve this, DB has to modernise its infrastructure - a task that is already ongoing. Among the biggest this year is the refurbishment of the Riedbahn between Frankfurt and Mannheim. It closed for renovation in July and is scheduled to reopen fully on December 14th.

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Wissing said Deutsche Bahn has to become more efficient and reliable. "I am now demanding this in concrete terms," he said.

Bosses at Deutsche Bahn are now required to submit a renovation concept, while the implementation will be closely monitored every three months. Targets are to be set for each year up to 2027 and reviewed by the Transport Ministry. 

A Deutsche Bahn steering group has been set up within the ministry to closely monitor the reorganisation.

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What's the reaction?

Transport politician Matthias Gastel from the Greens reacted sceptically to Wissing's plan, saying that his demands were vague.

Other critics had a similar reaction. Previously, the German government has said its short-term goal is to get 70 percent of trains to run on time and to increase this to 80 percent by 2030, but there was no mention of figures in Wissing's latest call. 

An op-ed in German newspaper Welt said: "Wissing has a seven-point plan, but on the three A4 pages there is not one concrete figure by which the Transport Minister wants to measure the 'Bahn' in future. Instead, there are vague declarations of intent."

Passenger rights groups see the efforts as positive - but also called for more information. 

"The ministry cares about the railways and wants to get involved," said Andreas Schröder from the passenger association Pro Bahn.

However, he said the paper is "very general" and that there is no explanation of how goals are to be achieved.

The next step is for DB's supervisory board to discuss the proposal and submit a response to the Transport Ministry.

According to Wissing, the reorganisation plan should be available "as quickly and as concretely as possible".

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