A dispute has arisen regarding the accuracy of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn’s punctuality statistics, with the Lokomotivführer (train drivers’) union, GDL, alleging manipulation of data to present an artificially improved performance.
GDL chairman Mario Reiß stated that the practice of omitting trains from the punctuality calculations has been an “open secret” among railway personnel for some time. The allegations follow a report published by “Der Spiegel”, suggesting Deutsche Bahn may be cancelling services to positively influence the reported statistics.
Reiß emphasized that union members have repeatedly encountered such situations in their daily work, expressing frustration at having to manage passenger dissatisfaction while management attempts to improve public perception through what he described as “cosmetic measures.
The union leader further criticized Deutsche Bahn’s management, accusing them of employing “number tricks” and empty train runs to deflect attention from the underlying causes of delays. He argued that delays trigger cascading effects and challenged the railway leadership to move beyond superficial “image-building programs.
Reiß called for a transparent culture of accountability, focused on addressing the structural issues contributing to the problems and establishing clear responsibility at the executive level. He warned that failing to do so will exacerbate the current crisis and further erode public trust in the railway system and Germany’s broader infrastructure.
