German Rail in decline ?

[hassaanhc]

Actually quite an achievement to have your trip disrupted by that disruption. Don't think the wires were actually down as the archives with disruptions say it was resolved after just 24 minutes (and only affected international services).

I was travelling internationally, from Amsterdam to Brussels on the 1525 (ICD9248). Approaching Breda, the TM announced there would be an indefinite delay and recommended going via Roosendaal, which is what most of the passengers did. The NS website and app had nothing about the disruption, but the SNCB website gave the information.

ICD9248 eventually left Breda around 45L and was terminated at Brussel-Noord almost an hour late. In the end, because of the disruption, the slower route took no more than 30 minutes longer than staying on the direct train, and I still had over an hour for my Eurostar.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Bit of a meltdown on the cross-border Venlo services at the moment, with hugely conflicting info between the DB app, website, NS station displays and announcements. Will it run? Won't it? Will it be cut short at Mönchengladbach?
Everyone here on Venlo platform just looks resigned to it.
Staff shortages and track problems the other end of the line apparently.
Edit: we're on the way at 1405, enough seats for everyone too unlike last time I came this way.

 

[DanielB]

RE13 is suffering a lot from staff shortages, not all staff is trained for the Netherlands apparently.
Doesn't help for passenger experience that delay information from abroad often is incorrectly communicated with the Dutch systems. Was just looking and saw the 15.56 arrival in Venlo being cancelled, but the return journey indicated as running (but with also a replacement bus indicated in the departure information)

 

[eastwestdivide]

Yes they were announcing buses from later when I was there a few hours ago. My missing 1305 departure was down as a short replacement working incoming from Mönchengladbach in the DB app and website, then it wasn’t, by which time the NS info had it running 20, then 25 late, and it never turned up.
The info was bad last September too. Nobody died.
At least I’ll be coming back a different route.

 

[ivorytoast28]

I still find the sheer availability and range of services in Germany amazing and have always been impressed by how quickly DB deal with disruption and how they prefer to run delayed rather than skip stops the way UK trains do but I must admit most my trains the last few days have run into some kind of delay which so far hasn't been detrimental to my trip

Saturday heading London-Koln-Dortmund had delays through Sonignen which seems to be still affecting long distance services today, not obvious why.

Sunday, IC2155 had various delays from Dortmund through to Eisenach (I boarded in Paderborn) but worked ultimately

Yesterday however, had a very pleasant journey RE23, RB29881 to Obstfeldershmeider to a very empty Mountain railway -Oberwißbacher bergbahn - well worth a visit off the beaten track and included in the Deutsche Bahn Ticket

Tomorrow I will attempt to travel from Erfurt to Innsbruck which could be interesting given the current disruption and perhaps a test of my faith in DB. Seems like a few ICE services are moving between Nürnburg and Munich now but there's been very few all day. I may choose to divert via Linz (though the Passau region has some of the worst flooding these services seem to be holding up but often delayed before reaching the area due to disruption in Würzburg)

 

[30907]

Yesterday however, had a very pleasant journey RE23, RB29881 to Obstfeldershmeider to a very empty Mountain railway -Oberwißbacher bergbahn - well worth a visit off the beaten track and included in the Deutsche Bahn Ticket

Seconded

Tomorrow I will attempt to travel from Erfurt to Innsbruck which could be interesting given the current disruption and perhaps a test of my faith in DB. Seems like a few ICE services are moving between Nürnburg and Munich now but there's been very few all day.

Though at least you should get there that way! The more scenic route via Garmisch-Partenkirchen seems to be blocked

I may choose to divert via Linz (though the Passau region has some of the worst flooding these services seem to be holding up but often delayed before reaching the area due to disruption in Würzburg)

Bear in mind that Linz-Innsbruck is via Rosenheim which is only an hour from Munich.

 

[ivorytoast28]

Though at least you should get there that way! The more scenic route via Garmisch-Partenkirchen seems to be blocked

One day! - I seem to be condemned to never do that route, last time I was in Bavaria was just after the crash in 2022 so it was closed

 

[stuu]

I have booked a journey from Vienna to Brussels in August, I booked in April and they have changed the timetable, so I have had to rebook the reservation (ticket is interrail).

Today they have cancelled the reservations again, as the timetable has changed - the change is the train (Nuremburg-Cologne) is now arriving in Cologne 15 minutes earlier than previously. So I have had to rebook onto the train I was already booked on, and pay again. You would think their system should have some margin for small changes before it cancels the journey.

I would understand if it had made the connection too short... it's also irritating that you can't get a refund until after the travel date

 

[Krokodil]

On the plus side, at least you noticed the alterations. I've been caught out several times now.

 

[rvdborgt]

I have booked a journey from Vienna to Brussels in August, I booked in April and they have changed the timetable, so I have had to rebook the reservation (ticket is interrail).

Today they have cancelled the reservations again, as the timetable has changed - the change is the train (Nuremburg-Cologne) is now arriving in Cologne 15 minutes earlier than previously. So I have had to rebook onto the train I was already booked on, and pay again. You would think their system should have some margin for small changes before it cancels the journey.

Did you need to rebook? In general, the reservation stays valid if the train number remains the same. A timetable change often does not change the train number.
In addition, you can have DB rebook you for free, but you'd need to call them.

 

[stuu]

Did you need to rebook? In general, the reservation stays valid if the train number remains the same. A timetable change often does not change the train number.
In addition, you can have DB rebook you for free, but you'd need to call them.

The email and the message in the app says the trip has been cancelled, and to search for an alternative, so I would assume they have cancelled them. The train number hasn't changed though.

There's nothing anywhere saying they will change it for free if you call them, but that's useful to know in case they change it again

 

[rvdborgt]

The email and the message in the app says the trip has been cancelled, and to search for an alternative, so I would assume they have cancelled them. The train number hasn't changed though.

The first thing to do after such a mail is to look what happened to your train. If it still exists, and with the same number, you still have reservations. Unfortunately, DB mails look rather serious, also for e.g. a 1-minute change in an arrival or departure time.

There's nothing anywhere saying they will change it for free if you call them, but that's useful to know in case they change it again

From general consumer law it follows that you can't charge someone for a service you don't deliver. So you can either ask for a refund of a cancelled reservation, or have it rebooked for free. Sometimes they state that, sometimes they don't.

 

[stuu]

The first thing to do after such a mail is to look what happened to your train. If it still exists, and with the same number, you still have reservations. Unfortunately, DB mails look rather serious, also for e.g. a 1-minute change in an arrival or departure time.

From general consumer law it follows that you can't charge someone for a service you don't deliver. So you can either ask for a refund of a cancelled reservation, or have it rebooked for free. Sometimes they state that, sometimes they don't.

Perhaps I will have a choice of seats then!

It says I can get a refund but only after the date of travel, I did email them before and their reply said exactly the same thing

 

[ivorytoast28]

I have booked a journey from Vienna to Brussels in August, I booked in April and they have changed the timetable, so I have had to rebook the reservation (ticket is interrail).

Today they have cancelled the reservations again, as the timetable has changed - the change is the train (Nuremburg-Cologne) is now arriving in Cologne 15 minutes earlier than previously. So I have had to rebook onto the train I was already booked on, and pay again. You would think their system should have some margin for small changes before it cancels the journey.

I would understand if it had made the connection too short... it's also irritating that you can't get a refund until after the travel date

That does sound frustrating - in general I would say you only need mandatory reservations for the international sections and you don't need to book massively in advance.

Also as a tip in case you weren't already aware I'd advise booking reservations through OBB as they're always €3 and cover all the DB network too whereas DB/Interrail reservation system are more. In general for planning OBB tickets and OBB scotty seem to work great across Europe (CDD also another good option). Bahnhof live is fine but seems to only cover departures within Germany

 

[rvdborgt]

Also as a tip in case you weren't already aware I'd advise booking reservations through OBB as they're always €3 and cover all the DB network too whereas DB/Interrail reservation system are more.

Interrail have the most expensive optional reservations I know (€8/seat/train). DB however charge per journey, regardless of the number of trains you book. So from 2 trains, that's already cheaper than ÖBB. If you travel with children, then you have a family reservation for the price of 2 adults (so the children have free seats), also for the whole journey.

 

[DanielB]

DB however charge per journey, regardless of the number of trains you book. So from 2 trains, that's already cheaper than ÖBB.

Apparently that's not the case anymore: for this summer I reserved Zürich - (EC) - Leoben and Leoben - (RJ) - Wien in one booking via ÖBB and was charged only € 3.
I remember the website first showing a price equivalent to € 3 per train, but this changed to € 3 for the entire booking upon payment.

When booking cross border trips to the Netherlands DB doesn't work for reservation only on the Amsterdam - Berlin IC, but via ÖBB this is possible. Last year it didn't work for the ICE as well, but they fixed that.
And do take into account that DB is increasing prices for reservations this summer.

 

[rvdborgt]

Apparently that's not the case anymore: for this summer I reserved Zürich - (EC) - Leoben and Leoben - (RJ) - Wien in one booking via ÖBB and was charged only € 3.
I remember the website first showing a price equivalent to € 3 per train, but this changed to € 3 for the entire booking upon payment.

I wasn't complete: ÖBB don't charge for extra reservations either if you change in Austria.

 

[DanielB]

I wasn't complete: ÖBB don't charge for extra reservations either if you change in Austria.

Exactly the same happened when I considered to reserve Vienna - Nürnberg - Hannover - Deventer entirely via ÖBB. First € 9 was shown, after selecting a trip it changed to € 3.
Eventually reserved in two parts: Vienna - Hannover via DB (to select preferred seats from the map) and Hannover - Deventer via ÖBB as DB refused to sell it.

 

[duesselmartin]

Seconded

Though at least you should get there that way! The more scenic route via Garmisch-Partenkirchen seems to be blocked

Bear in mind that Linz-Innsbruck is via Rosenheim which is only an hour from Munich.

DB Navigator suggest the Garmisch Partenkirchen route reopened.

 

[rvdborgt]

Exactly the same happened when I considered to reserve Vienna - Nürnberg - Hannover - Deventer entirely via ÖBB. First € 9 was shown, after selecting a trip it changed to € 3.

I can't reproduce that. I suppose that was a bug.

 

[DanielB]

I can't reproduce that. I suppose that was a bug.
View attachment 159553

I can: when selecting "nur sitzplatz" it indeed gives a price of € 9.
However: buying a normal ticket with Interrail selected as a discount, the price changes to € 3 as soon as you select first class (and I'll have done that, as I've got a first class pass)

 

[Spamcan81]

Had a mini break in Dresden a few weeks ago and I noticed more delayed and cancelled trains than on all previous visits to Germany. Not an undue problem on the Dresden suburban network given the frequency of the trains but unlike what I've been used to in the past.

 

[rvdborgt]

I can: when selecting "nur sitzplatz" it indeed gives a price of € 9.
However: buying a normal ticket with Interrail selected as a discount, the price changes to € 3 as soon as you select first class (and I'll have done that, as I've got a first class pass)

Interesting. For 3 trains, it first says €6 (2nd class). In the 2nd step, you can select 1st class, and it actually says that it will be "+ -€3".
Thanks for the tip. I suspect though that both these things are again a bug or unintended consequences, just like the free 1st class pass reservations until recently...

 

[eastwestdivide]

Currently on a late-running ICE, but it would be worse if there weren't so many passing opportunities and non-conflicting junctions.
On the plus side, free biccies ahead of the football!

 

[miami]

Got the train to Leipzig from St Pancras on Monday. Train to Brussels was on time (just the usual eurostar airport nonsense and lack of signal and thus ability to work).

My college was starting from Brussels on an early train. It had been cancelled or something due to issues to Frankfurt. My route had been set by the office to be Brussels-Koln-Hannover-Leipzig.

The trains crawled. And they were late. Got in 2 hours later than originally planned, with an average speed from Brussels to Leipzig of about 40mph.

I'm now on a train from Leipzig to Berlin, which departed nearly 2 hours late. Mostly a 1 hour service (two hourly in the morning -- there's nothing at 0915 or 1115). Massive delays today. 0816 was a few minutes late, then no departures until the 1016 which departed 1157. The 1216 is due to depart 1304, 1316 at 1350, 1416 at 1434.

I'm not impressed by DB so far. In 10 days time I get a train from Berlin to Olten. It's really really slow for a direct service - 8 hours to do 800km. London to Glasgow is 40% faster and that's without any high speed. The next leg to Geneva isn't much faster either.

 

[k-c-p]

It had been cancelled or something due to issues to Frankfurt.

A train broke down on the Colgone-Frankfurt highspeed line yesterday. So far all attempts to get it moving again have failed. The break down resuls in single tracking for parts of the line, cancellation of services and detours using the old Rhine valley line. The latter adds at least an hour of travel time.

 

[poffle]

Got the train to Leipzig from St Pancras on Monday. Train to Brussels was on time (just the usual eurostar airport nonsense and lack of signal and thus ability to work).

My college was starting from Brussels on an early train. It had been cancelled or something due to issues to Frankfurt. My route had been set by the office to be Brussels-Koln-Hannover-Leipzig.

The trains crawled. And they were late. Got in 2 hours later than originally planned, with an average speed from Brussels to Leipzig of about 40mph.

I'm now on a train from Leipzig to Berlin, which departed nearly 2 hours late. Mostly a 1 hour service (two hourly in the morning -- there's nothing at 0915 or 1115). Massive delays today. 0816 was a few minutes late, then no departures until the 1016 which departed 1157. The 1216 is due to depart 1304, 1316 at 1350, 1416 at 1434.

I'm not impressed by DB so far. In 10 days time I get a train from Berlin to Olten. It's really really slow for a direct service - 8 hours to do 800km. London to Glasgow is 40% faster and that's without any high speed. The next leg to Geneva isn't much faster either.

Train from Leipzig to Berlin is on the Munich - Leipzig - Berlin - Hamburg line. There was catastrophic flooding at the weekend in southern Germany. Today seems to be the first day I haven't seen major warnings on the DB website. There will still be massive speed restrictions and diversions across southern Germany which will then impact into the rest of the country.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2024 ==

Train from Leipzig to Berlin is on the Munich - Leipzig - Berlin - Hamburg line. There was catastrophic flooding at the weekend in southern Germany. Today seems to be the first day I haven't seen major warnings on the DB website. There will still be massive speed restrictions and diversions across southern Germany which will then impact into the rest of the country.

Also I see Today there is a fault with the overhead wiring between Berlin and Lutherstsdt Wittenberg which would also affect that journey.

 

[dutchflyer]

Some figures on how it went in ´23 in NRW=the Land around the big industrial cities as Köln-Dortmund etc:
from the DSO forum, the compatriot of this in Germany, which cited it from a local newsppr:
Only for the local RE/RB and S-trains: around 1/7 (14%) of what did run seriously late (I think thats mor as 10 or 15 mins at the final destination)
around 1/6 NOT running-cancelled, with more disturbingly arond 6% only advertised at very last minute-mostly due to staff not turning up for whatever reason without any reserve/replacement. Can confirm this is indeed quite frequent-more late eve as early morning.
I must add that IMHO this varies quite a lot between the several companies and Länder and NRW is by far among the top3 of very worst performers. And that RE13 from Venlo-as above, is among the very worst-this period also as the other main line via Emmerich is blocked for long time works, so many more freight over this single line.
Right now sitting in an RE60(Westfalenbahn, still cited as from Abellio) in Niedersachsen on a new Deutschlandticket on the way to Hannover.

 

[nwales58]

80 minutes early into Stralsund last week. Copenhagen-Hamburg was on time, which was a surprise, and I caught the previous one of the 2-hourly ICEs which was 30 minutes late (and had only come from Karlsruhe so not affected by the ongoing weather damage in Bayern/BaWü).

 

[physics34]

Huge delays on DB monday and tuesday. Poor information too.