Overview

• Der Spiegel reports that internal memos and chat messages reference taking delayed long‑distance trains out of service to improve the punctuality statistic.
• On September 16 the ICE 616 from Munich to Hamburg was terminated in Cologne, with an internal note reportedly stating it ended there to improve the statistic.
• A similar early termination was reported on September 11 near Cologne, and in at least one case the train later continued empty to Hamburg for its next assignment.
• Deutsche Bahn denies canceling services to boost numbers, saying early terminations occur only in isolated operational cases with alternative connections available and calling the phrasing in the chat incorrect.
• Canceled trains are not counted in the company’s punctuality rate, which stood at 62.5% for long‑distance services in 2024, while July data showed just 56.1% of long‑distance trains arriving on time.