Germany’s rail services face increasing criticism with long waits for trains and nearly half of all journies experiencing delays. The country’s major train stations secured low rankings in the annual European Railway Station Index, highlighting widespread customer dissatisfaction and reliability concerns.
Bremen Hauptbahnhof, one of the busiest train stations in Europe, secured the lowest score for customer convenience with just 39 points, according to the index. The station’s average waiting time of 11 minutes and a substantial 43 percent of trains experiencing delays contribute to a less-than-ideal travel experience for commuters.
Layla (not her real name), a project manager from Berlin, expressed frustration with the service. She told Express.co.uk: “Announcements in German are 15 minutes long, whereas the English translation will be two words long. Strikes announcements are given very last minute. Ticket inspectors come to check your ticket the moment you fall asleep, and the internet on board sucks.
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“Reasons given for delays are sometimes as absurd as ‘We’ve just discovered one of our brakes is on fire!’ Overall, it’s also quite expensive.”
Munich-Pasing secured the second-to-last position in the index, highlighting the widespread challenges faced by Germany’s rail services. Other German stations in the bottom five include Berlin Zoologischer Garten, Berlin-Gesundbrunnen, and Berlin Ostkreuz.
Sara (not her real name), a Slovenian translator living in Berlin, shared Layla’s sentiments, stating: “The service is expensive and unreliable.
“They overbook trains, so people who don’t reserve seats have to stand for hours in the little passages between wagons. Seat reservations are quite expensive at €4.90.
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“Internet really sucks, and the bistro on board is sad and often doesn’t work at all.”
Agata (not her real name), a stand-up comedian from Poland who used to live in London and is now residing in Berlin, added: “Delays, cancellations, unreliable service, and overbooked trains. It’s a nightmare to plan any journey in advance. UK trains are way more reliable, on time, and organised.”
The overall dissatisfaction with Germany’s rail services is compounded by the subsidised €9 train ticket, which, while affordable, contributes to overcrowding and logistical challenges.
The bottom 10 in the European Railway Station Index also included Essen Hauptbahnhof in Germany, Birmingham New Street in the UK, Châtelet-Les Halles and Haussmann Saint-Lazare in Paris, France, Helsinki Central in Finland, and Firenze Santa Maria Novella in Italy.
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