DB trains: should I be concerned?

[Jupiter]

Planned a trip across northern Europe, from Amsterdam to Lucerne and back. I decided to go by train, cuz it seemed the easiest way to go.

So I have several legs of the trip booked on DB, the German rail system, thinking “German = punctual and reliable” but now that I’m in Europe, with the reservations made and tickets paid for, I am starting to hear things about problems with German trains being not very well organized: lots of delays, cancellations, trains changing platforms without advance notice, etc.

We have a couple days with connections to other lines (Switzerland, Belgium and NL), and some days where we are counting on arriving at a place with enough time to tour around that day.

Should I be worried?

 

[Mexitele Blues]

I just rode from Köln to Travemunde yesterday. Our ICE train to Hamburg was 30 minutes late, but the regional train to the port was punctual to the minute. Even though we missed our initial connection, our ticket allowed us to board any other train to our destination. By contrast, the train from Amsterdam to Köln was right on time. My advice would be to allow some breathing room in your itinerary, rushing is for youngsters

 

[effzee]

Yeah, it's an issue right now. Deutsche Bahn was "privatised" a while ago, but it's 100% owned by the German government. So on the one hand, you've (we've) got the classic "lean" corporate mentality cutting corners to squeeze every Euro out of the system, and on the other hand you've got the government funding the whole thing, so there's little risk for poor performance.

People are up in arms over this nonsense. BUT the last thing anyone should do is take German complaints at face value. If something isn't perfect, they'll call it a catastrophe, and it'll be reported that way.

My daughter recently took the train across the whole country to go to a concert. She had to switch trains I think four times, and had a great experience, no issues at all.

So, it's a little unpredictable.

Which cities do you need to catch trains in?

 

[AAT65]

No doubt DB is not what it once was. Last time we were visiting Köln there were a couple of trains cancelled which meant it was slow going from the airport to the city. Generally delays are more common. But I think this is a relative decline from a very high standard and most trains still run as planned and reasonably near to time. So I wouldn’t worry too much.

 

[Jullecaster]

There‘s been severe underinvestments in the system until recently, so you will probably see some delays due to construction or defects – or not. Luck of the draw.

But @effzee is right, Germans do like to complain. You will be fine. Train attendants speak English, onboard info about delays or alternative connections are repeated in English, the app is ok–ish, available in English and has some features for real–time info and re–planning.

 

[Jupiter]

Yeah, it's an issue right now. Deutsche Bahn was "privatised" a while ago, but it's 100% owned by the German government. So on the one hand, you've (we've) got the classic "lean" corporate mentality cutting corners to squeeze every Euro out of the system, and on the other hand you've got the government funding the whole thing, so there's little risk for poor performance.

People are up in arms over this nonsense. BUT the last thing anyone should do is take German complaints at face value. If something isn't perfect, they'll call it a catastrophe, and it'll be reported that way.

My daughter recently took the train across the whole country to go to a concert. She had to switch trains I think four times, and had a great experience, no issues at all.

So, it's a little unpredictable.

Which cities do you need to catch trains in?

We leave Amsterdam like 7:30 tomorrow am, and we are in Köln for just that one day. Then the next morning we go to Basel. We have 2 hours planned to look around there before continuing to Lucerne. Coming back from there, we change again at Basel, to Freiburg. Next day, Mainz. Day after that is is longest ride: Mainz to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Brussels, then Brussels to Ghent.

 

[Jupiter]

There‘s been severe underinvestments in the system until recently, so you will probably see some delays due to construction or defects – or not. Luck of the draw.

But @effzee is right, Germans do like to complain. You will be fine. Train attendants speak English, onboard info about delays or alternative connections are repeated in English, the app is ok–ish, available in English and has some features for real–time info and re–planning.

Yep I booked everything through the app and I heard it is pretty good about status updates.

I’ve decided I’m not gonna worry about it too much, once I do what I can do.

 

[trev333]

Eh, do you pass through Aix?..

take them some good news if you do..

 

[msalama]

DB is unreliable, altough the trains we rode on our recent trip to Poland and back were all on time and none were cancelled. But then we only used the local RE / RB train network, whereas several long distance IC / ICE services were indeed late and some by hours.

A money saving tip for those going to Poland via Görlitz: DO NOT purchase your Polish tickets from DB because it's bloody expensive - IIRC about 34€ and up per person one-way - but cross the border and walk to the Zgorzelec main station instead. There's a machine in the main hall where you can buy any local tickets you need, and e.g. a single trip from there to Wroclaw is about 7€ per head. Be a scrooge, choose Polish!

 

[msalama]

PS. If you're a smoker, DO NOT smoke in front of the station, it's forbidden everywhere in Poland and you may get fined! There's however an ashtray a little way off the building end towards the border, so just walk there instead and no-one will bother you.

 

[effzee]

We leave Amsterdam like 7:30 tomorrow am, and we are in Köln for just that one day. Then the next morning we go to Basel. We have 2 hours planned to look around there before continuing to Lucerne. Coming back from there, we change again at Basel, to Freiburg. Next day, Mainz. Day after that is is longest ride: Mainz to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Brussels, then Brussels to Ghent.

That's ambitious! You'll have great memories one way or another

 

[Colo Springs E]

Wild. When I was stationed there (early 80s), the folks at the Greenwich Mean Time station were probably contacting the DB for exact time.

If that train was scheduled to leave at 11:13am… better not show on that platform at 11:14, ‘cuz that bad boy was gone!

 

[Jupiter]

Wild. When I was stationed there (early 80s), the folks at the Greenwich Mean Time station were probably contacting the DB for exact time.

If that train was scheduled to leave at 11:13am… better not show on that platform at 11:14, ‘cuz that bad boy was gone!

Yeah, that’s what I was expecting!

 

[msalama]

was expecting

Used to be like that, alas, all encrapified now.

 

[P Thought]

encrapified

band name alert

 

[Jullecaster]

Yeah, that’s what I was expecting!

If you‘re Osaka based you‘re spoiled anyways.
Nobody does trains like the Japanese…

 

[Jupiter]

So far so good!

 

[johnny k]

trains in france are pretty punctual. and a 20 minustes wait is nothing. I have had trains cancelled and had to take a bus. The 1 hour trip changed into 2 hours and a half.

 

[johnny k]

So far so good!
View attachment 1394521

have fun !

 

[Jowes_84]

Really interested innyour progress.
I love going by train, and would love to dump my car immediately.
But
Living too remote
train connections used for commuting / rush hours are prone to delays, often cancelled
If you don’t go directly, messes can happen easily
Which is why I am still driving the car through the country.
It’s on the agenda now to fix DB up for good but who knows, it might take forever.
Good luck
Enjoy
And yes, I love complaining and blaming DB for my car expenses