Deutsche Bahn boosts train cleanliness with €20M investment and extra staff

From spotless toilets to faster repairs, Deutsche Bahn's new push is transforming long-distance travel. See how €20M is making trains cleaner—and passengers happier.

, and Administrator

2026 May 2 . 6:01 AM

1 min read

The image shows the interior of a train with many seats, rods, lights, and glass doors. There are... — The image shows the interior of a train with many seats, rods, lights, and glass doors. There are many people in the train, some of whom are wearing bags, and in the background there are boards with something written on them.

Deutsche Bahn boosts train cleanliness with €20M investment and extra staff

Deutsche Bahn has stepped up its efforts to improve cleanliness and service on long-distance trains. Passengers have already noticed the changes, with surveys reflecting a positive trend in satisfaction. The company is now investing an extra €20 million this year to maintain and expand these improvements. Since January, the number of cleaning staff has risen sharply. Over 220 employees now clean trains on busy routes while they are in service—twice as many as before. In just the first three months of the year, crews cleaned 680,000 toilets and filled around 170,000 trash bags.

Special cleaning teams are also stationed at major hubs like Munich, ready to respond whenever needed. The frequency of deep-cleaning carpets in ICE trains has increased, with cleaners now covering an area equivalent to six football fields each week.

Beyond cleanliness, mobile technicians have been assigned to keep onboard coffee machines running smoothly. In the first three months alone, they replaced 100 faulty devices. Michael Peterson, head of long-distance services at Deutsche Bahn, has confirmed noticeable improvements in both cleanliness and onboard service. The additional €20 million investment aims to build on these early successes. With more staff, better maintenance, and faster response times, Deutsche Bahn expects cleaner trains and more reliable services for passengers. Surveys suggest the changes are already making a difference.