The biggest rail nightmares: Germany's worst routes in 2024!

The biggest rail nightmares: Germany's worst routes in 2024!

Punctuality on the train is an issue that concerns many of us, especially for those who regularly use the rails. But on some routes, Deutsche Bahn appears to have fallen far short of its punctuality targets. A look at the three worst rail connections in Germany in 2024 shows where there are particular problems. BuzzFeed has published the results and we show what travelers have to prepare for.

As the data shows, the ICE 1021 from Hamburg-Altona to Nuremberg tops the list with an average delay of almost 40 minutes. Punctuality is shockingly manageable: only around a third of the trains arrived on time. The reason for this is a dilapidated infrastructure and border problems that make passengers wait a long time on their journey. One wonders what the railway is actually doing to remedy these problems.

The perennial favorites of unpunctuality

The IC 2013 from Dortmund to Oberstdorf came in second with an average delay of 35.83 minutes. Only 29.3% of the connections were on time, which is not exactly good for the connection. The switch to diesel locomotives due to non-electrified sections also causes further delays - a circumstance that has not been able to be remedied since August 2024 because the train is no longer running.

The Flixtrain FLX 1237 from Cologne Hbf to Berlin Hbf finally takes third place with a delay of 35 minutes. Technical difficulties often left travelers uncertain about arrival times. A real challenge for anyone who relies on fast connections.

Punctuality in the overall context

The general punctuality of Deutsche Bahn's long-distance transport was not much better in 2024. Only 62.5% of trains arrived on time, only adding to the frustration of many travelers. In particular, the overloaded and outdated infrastructure is often a stumbling block here. Statista has recorded the figures that show that between January 2019 and May 2025, punctuality in local and long-distance transport fluctuated, but never reached a truly satisfactory level. On June 16, 2025, there was little reason for hope.

Deutsche Bahn was particularly loud in the first half of 2024 German railway under pressure when it comes to punctuality values. While the DB Group achieved a total of 89.9%, long-distance transport lost considerable quality with only 62.7%. The reasons are varied: aging infrastructure, high traffic density, staff shortages and extreme weather events represent major challenges that cannot be easily solved.

Where is this situation leading us? Travelers are being asked to adapt to unreliable connections, while at the same time the railway is planning measures to stabilize the quality of operations. The commuters among us can only hope that the Punctuality Action Plan will soon take effect and we will no longer have to report on the worst routes.