91–100 of 105 posts
The old data chart shows that they never did run on time, so it was always just a myth. Well, don't build your identity on lies and you won't have a crisis :)
In the last few weeks I’ve had friends lose/almost lose their flights in Germany because their trains were several hours late.
I don’t understand why someone would take the train instead of his car unless he wanted to take the risk of losing the flight.
I guess one's viewpoint on the matter depends on the public infrastructure in one's region.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know what others think, but Munich seemed reliable to me. YMMV
The problem in Munich is that everything must go through a single two-track part underneath the city center, which is at absolute capacity. If anything breaks down there (and it does, often, very often), even a small delay in a single train, all trains get delayed or skip stops. In my experience, you have to take at least one train early if you do not want to come late regularly. Even e.g. the main airport train line…
One remark only: TGV does not have to use the high speed rails only. It will just have to go slower on the other rails.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wouldn't you need the delay even if everyone drove perfectly? Isn't the point of it to give time for cars that have already entered the intersection to exit it, since the light turning red just means you're no longer allowed to enter?
Generally, cross drivers pay attention to other cars in the intersection and don't just drive into them.
The old data chart shows that they never did run on time, so it was always just a myth. Well, don't build your identity on lies and you won't have a crisis :)
And I think that’s just one trick, meaning the downfall starts earlier and is more significant I suspect.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
No it's from August 5th. It includes some nice graphs, apparently the punctuality really plummeted around 2020.
I wish the author would dive into that even a little bit. It looks like COVID killed the performance. Why? And what about post COVID?
As an example, in 2018, the then boss of infra at DB, Ronald Pofalla introduced the “Pofalla Wende”, whereby a commuting train between two cities will simply turn around and not serve the rest of the line if it has a certain delay. In itself, one could argue it can make sense under certain circumstances. But all remaining stations on the line are not counted as delays, even if there is not replacement train.
Same with cancellations, these don’t show up as delays.
The situation is significantly more dire than what this data shows.
I moved to Germany 10 years ago and while regional and suburban train service has been great, the long distance service has been terrible, with high prices, almost no high speed service and no competition. I'm Italian and therefore I had very low expectations, but at least high speed trains in Italy run better than Germany (at least until recently, when lack of regular maintenance work ultimately made its dent into t…
As a German, I always loved the long distance trains I. Italy. I remember a trip in 2008 crossing From south to North Italy which cost a fraction of what it would have in Germany. It had A/C and it was on time. So comfy. Meanwhile in Germany, they charged a shitton of money and it had no A/C. Still last year I found it much better than in Germany, overall. The only thing that PISSES me off is that the stupid Trenital…
The Trenitalia app shows arrival and departure platform and time info per station, as well as for trips you are currently taking.
There is also this gem of a website, no TLS and with 2007 iPhone 1.0 design language, but it works:
http://www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilitamobile/pages/cercaTre...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't know what others think, but Munich seemed reliable to me. YMMV
The problem in Munich is that everything must go through a single two-track part underneath the city center, which is at absolute capacity. If anything breaks down there (and it does, often, very often), even a small delay in a single train, all trains get delayed or skip stops. In my experience, you have to take at least one train early if you do not want to come late regularly. Even e.g. the main airport train line…
I agree that, in cases where being on time is essential (like catching a flight), allowing for a train malfunction so that you can reach your destination with the next one is a good strategy.