Service offensive with more staff
More transfer time should make rail connections more reliable
Because of the many delays, the train wants more generous transfer times put
© Jochen Eckel / Imago Images
Deutsche Bahn is less punctual than it has been for a long time: almost every second long-distance train reaches its destination with a delay. If you have to change trains, you can often only wave goodbye to the connecting train. Now the train reacts.
In view of the many delays, train customers should plan longer transfer times on hundreds of long-distance connections. In the timetable information and in the booking system, a few more minutes are set as standard, as announced by Deutsche Bahn. In addition, almost 1,000 additional employees are deployed on long-distance trains and at stations. They are intended to help passengers, for example, when boarding and alighting and when looking for their seat.
“We want to make travel more predictable,” said board member Michael Peterson. “The fastest connection is not always the most reliable.” You don’t want to make any promises in the timetable information that you can’t keep. Because the trains are currently less punctual than they have been in years. Peterson spoke of an imposition on passengers and employees.
“Run on the rails”
At the same time, there is a “historic run on the rails,” said Peterson. This year, the number of long-distance passengers will be slightly below the record value of 2019, when it was around 151 million. But there are significantly more trains on the network.
“Unfortunately, the current rail infrastructure cannot keep up with the growth in traffic,” Deutsche Bahn told Bahncard holders in an email on Wednesday. “More congestion on the rails and delays are the result.”
According to Peterson, longer transfer times are stored for around 800 connections. Depending on the connection, this could be 10, 12 or 14 minutes instead of the previous 8 minutes, Peterson explained. As a result, passengers would arrive at their destination 10, 20 or 30 minutes later. Passengers can also individually set shorter or longer transfer times in the system.
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Peterson assured that anyone who, contrary to expectations, catches an earlier connecting train than planned will not have any problems with the ticket inspection despite possible train connections. The train staff are instructed to be generous here.
Up to 1000 new service workers
So-called saver fare tickets are tied to certain long-distance trains. If you miss your connecting train because the previous train is late, the train connection is canceled and passengers can simply use the next train.
The long-distance service team has around 8,000 employees. 750 additional workers are now planned on the trains and 130 on particularly crowded platforms. In addition, 100 so-called guest attendants should ensure that passengers board and disembark smoothly.
The many delays are also due to a large number of construction sites. The railway is fighting against a renovation backlog. More than 17,500 kilometers of rails and 1,000 railway bridges are in need of rehabilitation, according to a response from the Federal Ministry of Transport to a request from the left parliamentary group, from which the newspapers of the Funke media group quote.