Deutsche Bahn is struggling with aging tracks and stations across Germany. Cracks, faulty signage and rusted bridges have forced speed limits on many routes. Passengers report missed connections and long waits are now commonplace. The issues extend in local routes and long‑distance services alike.
In addition, IT glitches have shut down the signaling network multiple times this year. A recent malfunction stopped trains nationwide for several hours. The outages have left schedules in disarray and eroded confidence in the rail operator. Repair timelines stretch for years, and daily riders can expect more delays.