Almost one in three rail passengers arrived at their destination late last year. And no improvement is expected. The CDU transport politician Bareiß is therefore calling for higher compensation for customers.
Because of the many delays and the foreseeable number of construction sites as a result of the planned general renovation on many routes, the Union is calling for a significant increase in compensation for rail passengers. Only 52 percent of long-distance trains were on time in November, CDU transport politician Thomas Bareiß told the “Rheinische Post”. This is a new negative record.
Pain and incentive for the railway
He continued: “We now need compensation that really represents a certain level of compensation for those affected and at the same time hurts the railway and encourages us to do better.”
In the future, for a delay of up to two hours, 50 percent of the fare would have to be refunded, from two hours onwards 75 percent, “and for a delay of four hours or more, the entire fare must be refunded,” said Bareiß. There is currently a 25 percent refund for departures of 60 minutes or more and 50 percent for a one-way trip if the delay is more than 120 minutes.
Union parliamentary group vice-president Steffen Bilger (CDU) also called for a refund of seat reservations in the event of cancellations. They have so far been excluded from this. “The reservation fees become a source of income for the railway without compensation. This practice must end.”
Rail: Trains not more punctual at higher speeds Compensations
The railway company defended the current regulations. These are the most generous of all means of transport, said a spokeswoman. Seat reservation costs would be refunded if the seats could not be used due to train cancellation or delay. In addition, trains do not run more punctually just because there is higher compensation. “Too many trains on too few and too old tracks, on which more construction is being done than ever before: This is currently slowing down the railway,” was the railway’s reaction.
In November, according to Deutsche Bahn, around 75 percent of long-distance trains were slowed down by at least one construction site on their journey. The railway had to significantly expand the construction volume due to the “massive renovation backlog”. In November 2023 there were eleven percent more construction sites than in November 2022.