Overview map and details (link) provided by Deutsche Bahn about major construction sites in 2024 affecting long-distance rail transport network. Also link to passenger rights section.
Travellers can check in advance if connections may be affected by a major construction(s).
All construction-related timetable changes of Deutsche Bahn you can search here (German website).
Have good journeys.
According to a recent article, Deutsche Bahn's timetables had to be changed between two and three million times this year alone.
"Timetables are no longer calculated, but only estimated," the SZ quoted a member of the supervisory board as saying. This is a "huge problem" and leads to a "loss of control" over the timetables. The safety of train traffic is not affected by this, the manager stresses. The consequences are nevertheless "catastrophic".
Here in German travel forum we see more and more messages that travelers are contacted by Deutsche Bahn that their booked connections are either cancelled or moved. Based on this article this can happen more often in the future.
Based on this article these are the three most often delayed DB long-distance connections with the highest ratio of not arriving on time (+ 6 minutes):
Best DB long-distance connection:
Stuttgart - Singen - Zurich (81% on time, 4 minutes average delay)
“According to DB AG, the main reason for the delays is the rail infrastructure in Germany, which is overloaded and prone to disruption,” replied the responsible Parliamentary State Secretary.
Thank you Mark for this important info and great resources. I am kind of thinking about replicating my Paris-to-Copenhagen by train journey from summer before last, and DB is a central and key part of that journey.
Thanks for the post, MarkK!
The 81% performance record for Stuttgart > Singen > Zurich is impressive in light of the current average performance across Germany.
I used this same routing from/to ZRH Airport via Zurich HB for my recent visit to southern Germany with good results. Most of us with our eyes on places like Tübingen, Stuttgart, Esslingen, and the Black Forest probably think first of flying into FRA, but IME fares into ZRH are very competitive with those fares, and ZRH is, generally speaking, a nicer airport. And with the current consruction woes between Frankfurt and Stuttgart, ZRH seems a good go-to alternative for easy access to this part of Germany.
There are DIRECT trains from Zurich HB (1 hour to Singen, 3 hours to Stuttgart.) And from ZRH airport, one can use those same trains by tacking on a 10-minute local train ride up front to Zurich HB.
Singen, btw, while its touristic value is minimal, does have reasonably good infrastructure for travelers... affordable hotels (far more affordable than Zurich!!) as well as some ethnic restaurants, and at the new 3-story mall across the from the Singen train station, dozens of shops, eateries, etc.
Kim, sounds like a great trip. So many things to explore on the way, e. g. new Danish World Heritage site in Christiansfeld (link). Maybe you also want to do a very little detour to Schwerin with the also new awarded Residence Ensemble?
Hamburg main station as Northern train hub is under stress. A lot of trains starting from Hamburg already start with a delay.
Currently Hamburg - Berlin and Hamburg - Schwerin are under reconstruction. Train journey to / from Berlin +45 minutes.
State Schleswig-Holstein discussed train traffic to / from Jutland with Denmark - their minister for economy is a Dane which is helpful. They are thinking of offering a direct connection between Hamburg and Aarhus which would be great.
Tinglex station shall be enhanced to a transfer hub for cross-border travelers.
