Overview

• In 2024, 24% of regional trains in North Rhine-Westphalia were delayed, the highest rate in years, with 7% of trains canceled, nearly half due to staffing shortages.
• Baden-Württemberg's semiannual rail quality ranking stabilized at 45.4 points in late 2024, a slight improvement from 2023, though only 10 of 33 lines scored above 50 points.
• The Klettgau network operated by Swiss Federal Railways ranked highest in Baden-Württemberg with 91.9 points, while DB Regio's Hochrhein network scored the lowest at 6.8 points.
• State initiatives, including 700 new trainee driver positions in NRW and targeted investments in Baden-Württemberg, aim to address chronic personnel shortages and infrastructure issues.
• Officials warn that significant improvements in rail service reliability will take years, as modernization efforts face funding gaps, construction delays, and systemic challenges.