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Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

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Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#21

Post by MrOrelliOReilly »

nephihaha wrote: post #2

DB is a lot better run than British trains... My God. Twenty minutes late is normal in the UK.

The author makes effectively the same comment that twenty minutes late is normal for Germany (below). I don’t have any statistics, but anecdotally I’ve had worse experiences with DB than in the UK. DB does not just run late, but has a bad habit of teleporting you to random German towns, from which you must quickly route find to your original destination (as is the exact story of the post).

> It is twenty minutes late. I consider this early.

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#22

Post by junon »

101008 wrote: post #10

I know the author mentioned this, but I just got nervous imagining this as a tourist who doesn't speak German at all. This shouldn't be like this. Why they don't help at all? It's also funny considering how here in South America we look at Germany trains (and Switzerland trains) as always on time, and the best train system, etc. But I am sure if this happens here it would be on the cover of newspapers.

German trains do typically announce in English. If they don't, that's the exception. Just ask around. Most people here speak English and will be able to repeat what was said, especially if they're under 40 or so.

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#23

Post by hexbin010 »

rwmj wrote: post #16
huhkerrf wrote: post #4

DB is continually the worst train experience I have in Europe. I have never been on a train in Germany that's on time or that stops at the right station. Several times I've had to find someone young (and who speaks English) and say, "I'm just going to follow you to the next train." I've been told that the UK is worse, but I don't have much experience with it outside of Eurostar.

UK trains are terrible. I don't have direct experience to know if they are worse than DB trains, except for DB's dire performance being a running joke amongst my German colleagues at work. I bet that UK trains "win" by being far more expensive than German trains, along with absurdly complex pricing. If you choose the wrong ticket you could also "win" a criminal conviction! Don't worry though! We're currently building…

> We're currently building the most expensive bit of high speed rail in Europe

Largest most expensive jobs programme in Europe perhaps more accurately... lots of pigs' snouts in the trough.

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#24

Post by drunx »

I lived 15 years in The Netherlands and 3 years ago moved to Germany.

Back in NL I used to complain about trains being late...

Boy oh boy was I not ready for Germany and Deutsche Bahn. I heard stories, but it was so absurd at times that I treated them as comical acts.

Then I traveled long distance on DB...

- trains being late by 15-40 minutes is NORMAL. It's included. At this point I feel like it's even planned. - the "thrown out in the middle of nowhere" happens! Ruthlessly. Operationally. With zero empathy or guidance. One minute you traveled inside the train approaching your destination another minute you are on a station in some village, knowing nothing about "why?" And "what is next?"

I still take trains - but I do not plan any appointments on arrival. As arrival is theoretical and not guaranteed. I just take a gamble and sink hours into the journey. Read books. Watch movies.

P.s. I am surprised that DB is not held more accountable for the absolutely shit service they provide.

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#25

Post by harddrivereque »

Deutsche Bahn has gone from not perfect to straight up disastrous and antisocial in the past years. They use scamming approaches more misleading than airline's and in cases straight up lie. It's rightfully headed for insolvency despite billions of wasteful and wrongful state funding. I hope that company goes under as soon as possible. Any other solution to the railway system management is better than DB. DB is not going to make it

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#26

Post by microtonal »

101008 wrote: post #10

I know the author mentioned this, but I just got nervous imagining this as a tourist who doesn't speak German at all. This shouldn't be like this. Why they don't help at all? It's also funny considering how here in South America we look at Germany trains (and Switzerland trains) as always on time, and the best train system, etc. But I am sure if this happens here it would be on the cover of newspapers.

It's also funny considering how here in South America we look at Germany trains (and Switzerland trains)

That's very outdated, DB has been terrible for a long time though. Switzerland is still the best though. Here are some stats for 2025:

https://chuuchuu.com/2025wrapped

Since you have to scroll down quite a bit to get the list of most reliable European trains (with percentage on time):

1. Switzerland 97.8%

2. The Netherlands 93.9%

3. Belgium 88.6%

4. Austria 82.2%

5. France 79.7%

6. Italy 62.0%

7. Germany 58.5%

(Not sure why these are the only countries in the list.)

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#28

Post by gadders »

huhkerrf wrote: post #4

DB is continually the worst train experience I have in Europe. I have never been on a train in Germany that's on time or that stops at the right station. Several times I've had to find someone young (and who speaks English) and say, "I'm just going to follow you to the next train." I've been told that the UK is worse, but I don't have much experience with it outside of Eurostar.

I think it depends on where you are going. My local commuter link into London is OK and reliable, if expensive.

Long range trains from, say, London to Manchester are often overcrowded and ridiculously priced.

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#29

Post by mosura »

101008 wrote: post #10

I know the author mentioned this, but I just got nervous imagining this as a tourist who doesn't speak German at all. This shouldn't be like this. Why they don't help at all? It's also funny considering how here in South America we look at Germany trains (and Switzerland trains) as always on time, and the best train system, etc. But I am sure if this happens here it would be on the cover of newspapers.

German trains, as recently as the 90s, were phenomenal, and integrated superbly with the Swiss and others. It is in the 21st century that Germany has gone off the rails.

Re: Kidnapped by Deutsche Bahn

#30

Post by tonfa »

101008 wrote: post #10

I know the author mentioned this, but I just got nervous imagining this as a tourist who doesn't speak German at all. This shouldn't be like this. Why they don't help at all? It's also funny considering how here in South America we look at Germany trains (and Switzerland trains) as always on time, and the best train system, etc. But I am sure if this happens here it would be on the cover of newspapers.

> Germany trains (and Switzerland trains) as always on time, and the best train system, etc

It's true of Switzerland and probably Austria. Germany is famous for having infrastructure issues that will take some time to resolve.

Eg see https://chuuchuu.com/2025wrapped for some stats

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