DSB records high punctuality in first quarter of 2024
Following the first three months of the year, DSB has assessed its punctuality performance, revealing a strong start to the year across both long-distance and regional train services, as well as S-trains.
In the long-distance and regional train services, nearly four out of five customers arrived on time. More specifically, the Danish operator achieved a customer punctuality rate of 78.2 per cent, surpassing the contractual target of 75 per cent of customers arriving within three minutes of the scheduled arrival time.
A challenging start to the year
These figures are notable considering the year commenced with a snowstorm affecting traffic. However, punctuality averaged over 80 per cent in February and March, an improvement compared to the same period last year.
“After a challenging start to the year, with adverse weather conditions including snowstorms on some days, customers have generally experienced trains running on time in the first quarter of the year. Typically, we perform well in the first months of the year when Banedanmark, the Danish railway infrastructure manager, conducts limited track maintenance. One-third of delays during this period were due to signal faults. As Banedanmark gradually replaces the signalling system section by section, we expect the number of signal faults to decrease,” stated Tony Bispeskov, DSB’s Head of Communications.
The route between Aarhus and Aalborg boasts the highest punctuality at 91.5 per cent, while in Zealand, the Kystbanen line leads the statistics with 82.1 per cent.
Banedanmark’s track maintenance primarily commences in spring and summer, potentially challenging punctuality during certain periods, although DSB endeavours to mitigate this through a more robust timetable, states the company in a press release.
S-Trains
The Copenhagen S-train recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, yet its advanced age is not reflected in its historically high punctuality statistics. During the first three months, 96.5 per cent of S-train customers arrived punctually, exceeding the contractual target of 92.4 per cent.
“On the S-train network in the Copenhagen metropolitan area, we reap the benefits of trains running smoothly and reliably. This is partly due to Banedanmark’s complete replacement of ageing signalling systems. When we look beyond Denmark’s borders, the Copenhagen S-train network ranks in the top 3 globally among 14 other urban metro systems. Additionally, DSB has initiated an upgrade of S-train interiors with new seat upholstery and subtle colour changes to walls and ceilings in calming shades, enhancing customers’ perception of the trains as more welcoming and friendly,” commented Tony Bispeskov.
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