Deutsche Bahn punctuality improves slightly

Deutsche Bahn has seen a slight month-on-month improvement in punctuality figures. But more than half of all long-distance trains were still late in November 2025.

54,5 percent of DB trains on time in November

54,5 percent of all long-distance trains operated by Deutsche Bahn were on time in November 2025. The figure might leave much to be desired, but it is still an improvement from the 48,5 percent of long-distance trains which were on time in October 2025 - a punctuality all-time low for the national rail company.

Deutsche Bahn considers a train on time when it arrives at a destination no longer than five minutes and 59 seconds after the scheduled arrival time. This is a generous buffer period compared to neighbouring Switzerland, where SBB considers a train delayed if it arrives three minutes after schedule.

Deutsche Bahn’s regional transport is generally more reliable. Last month, 85,2 percent of all regional trains were on time. Next month will deliver annual punctuality figures, which are expected to be well below Deutsche Bahn’s once self-imposed 2025 goal of 65 percent punctuality.

Palla says construction will improve punctuality long term

Having taken over from Richard Lutz in August, Deutsche Bahn’s new CEO, Evelyn Palla, has made it her mission to modernise Germany’s ageing rail network in the short term to deliver improved punctuality rates in the long term. For that reason, it may be at least a few years before passengers start to see significant improvements. 

Announcing Palla’s appointment, Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) said Deutsche Bahn had a new punctuality goal: that 70 percent of long-distance train services would arrive on time by 2029. This is actually down from the previous government goal of 80 percent punctuality in the immediate future and a long-term goal of 90 percent punctuality.

Passengers have one thing to look forward to in the short term: construction works are to be paused over the public holidays of December 24 and 25, to make sure Christmas holiday traffic is hit by fewer delays.