Deutsche Bahn is struggling with aging tracks and stations across Germany. Cracks, faulty signage and deteriorated bridges have forced speed limits on many routes. Passengers report missed connections and long waits are now commonplace. The issues extend in commuter lines and express trains alike.
In addition, IT glitches have shut down the signaling network multiple times this year. A recent malfunction stopped trains nationwide for several hours. The outages have left schedules in disarray and eroded confidence in the rail operator. Officials say repairs will take years, and daily riders can expect more delays.