German Railways, reliability today?

[fulton]

Our experience of the German railway system, in recent years, is one of unreliability, curious if there is an underlying reason or are we just unlucky? Our latest travelling to the UK, Dusseldorf to Koln 15 minute delay, Koln to Brussels, train starts in Koln, while sitting ready to depart, announcement train cancelled, only option take regional trains with two changes, arrived in Brussels 1 1/2 hours later than planned, ( Eurostar 3 1/2 hour delay due to a fire, but that is something which can happen, so you except it )  Also recently Dusseldorf to Munster train leaves on time then announcement, train not now going to Munster! so had to change trains which made a 1 hour delay, so late for an hospital appointment, coming back also, Dusseldorf train terminated short, so we had to change, these trips have been weekdays, can understand weekend disruption. The current 9 Euro ticket is a good incentive to use the trains but we wish they were more reliable.

[sncf231e]

Your experiences seems to be quite normal recently. And the 9 Euro ticket does not help.

Regards

Fred

[jjb1970]

That's been my experience for quite a few years, German railways aren't what they once were.

[Bernard Lamb]

Try flying.😃

The last few weeks in Germany there have been delays of up to four hours going on personal experiences with friends and family.

Travel problems seem to be widespread at the moment.

Bernard

[5944]

There's been a lot of disruption the last couple of weeks after the derailment at Garmisch-Partenkirchen a two months ago. It would appear the sleepers have been identified as being defective and there's been a nationwide inspection of similar ones. 

 

https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/sleeper-inspections-lead-to-temporary-line-closures-in-germany/

 

Lots of lines closed, delays due to infrastructure up from 1.8% to 11.7% in June. Coupled with all the extra €9 passengers it's not a good time to be travelling over there.