The German Federal Network Agency has criticized Deutsche Bahn for inadequate communication regarding construction sites. President Klaus Müller accuses the railway of poor management that causes chaos. However, trains were more punctual than usual over the Christmas holidays.
The German Federal Network Agency has sharply criticized Deutsche Bahn for its poor information on railway construction sites. In an interview with Rheinische Post, President Klaus Müller stated that he understands the challenges of modernizing the network, but passenger and freight traffic must continue. He accused the railway of 'miserable construction site management,' particularly with short-notice measures.
In summer, Deutsche Bahn informed competitors of only 62 percent of construction sites on time, dropping to 55 percent in late autumn. The agency had already imposed fines totaling 2.8 million euros on the rail network subsidiary InfraGO for delayed announcements. Despite this, nothing has changed, so they are now relying on penalty payments, according to Müller.
Deutsche Bahn is required to compensate affected transport companies. For extremely late notifications, the construction work can even be canceled – the railway is currently suing against this regulation.
Punctuality was positive over the holidays: On December 24 and 25, the long-distance rate was over 75 percent, compared to 55 percent in November. A railway spokesperson confirmed this to Bild-Zeitung. In November, the railway announced it would limit construction work on those days to handle expected passenger numbers. CEO Evelyn Palla expects under 60 percent punctuality in long-distance traffic for the current year.
