Just 56,1 percent of DB trains were punctual in July

Figures from Deutsche Bahn have revealed that just 56,1 percent of the company’s long-distance trains arrived on time during July 2025. What is the German government doing to improve services?

July 2025: Deutsche Bahn records some of its worst delays

Chronic delays at Deutsche Bahn keep getting worse. In July, just 56,1 percent of long-distance Deutsche Bahn trains arrived at their destination on time. That is a six percentage point drop compared to the same period in 2024.

Deutsche Bahn considers a train as delayed when it arrives at a destination no longer than six minutes 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 also published its figures on passenger punctuality (Reisendenpünktlichkeit), which account for connections missed due to delays and reveal how delayed passengers were to arrive at their desired end destination. 

In July, just 59,4 percent of Deutsche Bahn passengers arrived at their end destination with a maximum delay of 14 minutes and 59 seconds. This figure is down from 67 percent during the same period last year.

Why are DB trains always delayed, and will things improve?

In 1994, the German government passed the Rail Reform Act. In the 20 years following, the federal government significantly reduced funding for Deutsche Bahn.

In 2015, government funding for Deutsche Bahn started to increase, but 20 years of spending cuts meant that the track network was now well overdue for repair. The introduction of the 9-euro ticket and Deutschlandticket increased passenger traffic, putting more pressure on ailing services.

In recent years, the impact of cuts on services has become increasingly apparent to passengers. Amid chronic delays and ever-increasing passenger dissatisfaction, there is pressure on the government to do more.

When Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and his CDU-SPD coalition took office in May, he announced a 500-billion-euro infrastructure spending plan and that Deutsche Bahn’s management would be restructured. In mid-August, Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) dismissed Deutsche Bahn boss Richard Lutz.

In a press release, the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) welcomed the news of Lutz’s departure, calling the decision an “important sign of the capacity to act and ministers’ clear will to confront acute problems at DB”.

In the next stage of restructuring, on September 22, Schnieder will present a plan to improve Deutsche Bahn services. The minister says the government has already agreed upon an outline and promised to deliver “thoroughness and diligence before speed".