According to data made available to “Bild” by government sources, The point of punctuality on Wednesday, the hottest day of the year, was 35.5 percent. On Tuesday 37.3 percent, and on Monday 40.7 percent ICE trains ran punctually. Millions of travelers needed good nerves and cool drinks.
The last time the results were recorded for the last time in December 2023 Due to the Zoltan cyclone And during the sharp beginning of winter in November 2023, however, according to Deutsche Bahn, there was never three days in a row with punctuality below 40 percent.
Daily values have only been reported since 2015, previously they were only weekly values. According to railway statistics, the last time punctuality fell below 30 percent, took place at the end of December 2010.
– Record temperatures in Germany were an extreme burden on the railway network and trains – the Railway Spokesman justifies. – In addition, there were strong storms and fires of embankments, which forced hundreds of trains to redirect in a short time and caused serious damage to our cables, acoustic screens and overhead lines.
The railway infrastructure requires renovation and therefore it is Very susceptible to interference, even without extreme weather conditions. – However, extremely high temperatures caused a failure of twice as many systems than on a normal day – continues the railway spokesman.
He assures that “thousands of employees worked intensively day and night as part of special operations” to quickly master and fix the damage. He adds that the availability of air conditioning systems in long -distance transport was over 99 percent. over the past three days.
epa12212486 – Germany Duisburg Gateway Terminal (Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnider Visits Duisburg Gateway Terminal)
Patrick Schnider, Minister of Transport, PlanE Protection Program against heat for the infrastructure of rail and roads. – The heat mercilessly show us that a large part of our infrastructure comes from the 1960s and was not built for the extreme weather phenomena of tomorrow. We take it very seriously and take action – he announces. The goal is “a solid, resistant to climate change system”.
– That is why we invest in thermal protection, intelligent monitoring technology and modern building materials. One thing is certain: the mobility of the future must also be able to withstand extreme weather conditions – promises Schnieder.
The Minister of Transport calls to achieve punctuality indicator above 80 or even 90 percent. Values of approx. 60 to 65 percent are “excluded”. Schnider wants to decide on the future of the head of Deutsche Bahn Richard Lutz and changes in the board until the end of August.
