Overview

• Deutsche Bahn reported that just 56.1 percent of long-distance trains met its six-minute punctuality threshold in July, nearly six points below last year’s level.
• The share of passengers arriving within 15 minutes fell to 59.4 percent, marking the lowest monthly performance of 2025.
• The operator attributes the decline to extensive renovation works, a July heatwave that sparked embankment fires, targeted arson attacks and a supplier software update enforcing speed cuts.
• Rising compensation payouts and sustained underperformance prompted the federal ministry to demand a corporate shake-up and to end CEO Richard Lutz’s contract early once a successor is in place.
• Facing a €17 billion gap in its €107 billion upgrade fund, Deutsche Bahn is reevaluating renovation schedules to balance infrastructure overhauls with everyday service reliability.