Germany slashes rail punctuality goals as delays and cancellations persist
Germany’s transport minister has scaled back expectations for rail improvements, calling earlier promises unrealistic. Patrick Schnieder announced a new target of 70% punctuality by 2029, replacing a more ambitious goal set by previous leadership. The move comes as Deutsche Bahn faces ongoing delays and cancellations.
Schnieder criticised the former management’s pledge of 75% punctuality by 2026, labelling it 'pure fantasy'. He warned that such unrealistic claims would only increase public frustration. Instead, he described his revised 2029 target as 'highly ambitious but achievable'.
The minister also ruled out achieving 75% or 80% punctuality by 2030, citing the current state of the rail network. He stressed that a full modernisation would take at least a decade. Schnieder’s comments signal a shift toward more direct government oversight of Deutsche Bahn.
He expressed confidence in the new CEO, Evelyn Palla, who took over from Richard Lutz on 1 October. The minister’s strategy focuses on long-term reliability rather than short-term fixes. His plan aims to tackle persistent issues like cancellations and delays across the network.
The revised target sets a lower but more realistic benchmark for Deutsche Bahn’s performance. Schnieder’s approach suggests a longer timeline for improvements, with closer government involvement. The changes reflect ongoing challenges in upgrading Germany’s ageing rail infrastructure.
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