Once upon a time, Deutsche Bahn were spoken of in the category of Swiss watches and clockwork in general for their efficiency and reliability. Those times are past. Far from running trains on time, Deutsche Bahn is just running a train on your travel plans these days. The reasons for this are far beyond my ken, so I won’t soeak to them… only the resulting unreliability.
My European friends have commented on this several times in the last few years, and I saw it in action on a train trip across EU that was running perfectly on time. Once, we crossed into Germany, the trains were delayed over and over, until we belatedly exited Germany, and the trains suddenly started running on schedule again.
While the majority of the Deutsche Bahn were incredibly helpful, it did little to speed my journey across Germany this time. You can see the issues in little ways and in big ways…. such as the announcements garbled and playing over top one another.
EU train stations are still a modern marvel. I love train stations, and Germany is no exception. When you are stuck, you aren’t captive. You can find wieners and cuccis, and all manner of things to entertain yourself with. So, whether you are a hamburger or a frankfurter, when you are in a train station, you’re bun-in-a-million. 😀
I arrive in Köln a bit late, but to familiar friendly faces! Further illustrating the fact that it’s just worth it to take the trip. Buy the ticket, take the ride. Get out there, kids.
Deutsche Bahn tips
- Buy tickets online ahead of time
- Get there early if you can, but don’t sweat it cuz the train will probably be late.
- Plan for extra travel time due to delays
- Avail yourself of the best named snacks in the world
- When in doubt, go to the Deutsche Bahn info desk and have them get you back on rails!