Long-distance traffic of Deutsche Bahn: Again, almost every second long-distance train was delayed in July

Rail travel remained a test of patience for passengers in July: With 52.6%, only just over half of long-distance trains were on the move without major delays, the railway announced. Compared to the previous month, the rate remained unchanged. In addition to the hot days in both months, the federal government-owned company and its passengers continue to be plagued by infrastructure problems.

More disruptions to facilities "Generally, since several months, Deutsche Bahn has recorded a continuous increase in facility disruptions," it said at the railway. There are also numerous construction sites and heatwaves at the end of June and end of July. "Temperatures of sometimes more than 41 degrees put a significant strain on the traffic infrastructure," it said.

At the same time, maintenance work in extreme heat could not be carried out as planned and had to be postponed. A long-distance train is considered delayed by the railway if it is six minutes late. In the first half of the year, only 58.7% of trains were on time. Train cancellations are not taken into account. They are included in the so-called passenger punctuality.

It measures the proportion of passengers who have reached their destination on time within a certain period. A passenger is considered on time up to a delay of 14 minutes and 59 seconds. The rate was only 55% in July. This is the third lowest value since the railway started publishing passenger punctuality in 2024.