German railway CEO says first-half punctuality at 59%

Fewer than six in 10 of Germany's long-distance trains ran on time in the first half of the year, with the head of national rail operator Deutsche Bahn admitting the performance was "not good."

Just 58.7% of long-distance services arrived on time, Deutsche Bahn chief executive Evelyn Palla told the Sunday edition of the Welt newspaper. 

"That is not a good figure. There's no point trying to gloss over it," Palla said. However, she noted that in three-quarters of delayed services, the delay was less than 15 minutes.

"Even though we are not yet satisfied overall, we should not make Deutsche Bahn out to be worse than it is," she added.

Germany's national rail operator has long been catching flak for increasing delays. The company has begun to overhaul key lines as part of a massive refurbishment project aimed at improving services. 

Under Deutsche Bahn's methodology, a long-distance train is considered delayed if it arrives at least six minutes late. Cancelled trains are not included in the company's operational punctuality statistics, which measure how many services reach their destination on time.

Palla, who took the helm at Deutsche Bahn in October 2025, had set a punctuality target of at least 60% for this year.

She blamed the company’s former management, describing its performance culture as inadequate and its structure as one of "organized irresponsibility." 

Since taking office last year, Palla has launched a restructuring that includes streamlining the company’s headquarters and cutting numerous management positions.