Easter passenger numbers on DB long-distance trains up 20 percent over 2019

Deutsche Bahn (DB) carried some 1,8 million passengers on its long-distance trains over the Easter weekend, an increase of 20 percent over the same period in 2019.

According to DB, the past weekend represents the first time that it was able to achieve pre-corona passenger numbers and capacity utilisation. Throughout Easter, the company ran additional trains, mostly between Berlin and Munich as well as between Berlin and the major urban centres in North Rhine-Westphalia, such as Cologne, Düsseldorf and Dortmund.

Punctuality suffers

While passenger numbers were cause for celebration, punctuality and track changes were not. DB admits that travellers were faced with difficulties over the weekend.

Longer travel times are likely going to persist for some time, due to a combination of construction work and an increase in the number of trains on German tracks, the company warns. DB and the various federal states are investing a record sum of 13,6 billion euros in the revamp of rail infrastructure this year.

In February, only 76 percent of long-distance train arrived on time. In March, punctuality slumped to 71,1 percent, mainly due to record simultaneous construction activity, DB says.

Further reading:

• DB improves use of funds after accumulating for years
• DB retires construction mascot Max Maulwurf
• First 250 km/h-run on new section of German high-speed rail line
• DB’s Stuttgart 21 project on track and on time but not on budget
• DB accelerates plans for climate neutrality
• Deutsche Bahn earmarks record figure for rail infrastructure investments
• Deutsche Bahn orders 43 new ICE 3neo trains
• DB and northern German states team up to fast-track rail expansion