Deutsche Bahn warns €13B shortfall threatens 2029 punctuality goals

Deutsche Bahn faces a funding shortfall that could derail its punctuality targets. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has set a goal of 70% on-time trains by 2029. But without extra investment, the rail operator warns it will miss this benchmark by a wide margin. The company’s CEO, Evelyn Palla, has called for significantly more money to upgrade the existing rail network. Current funding levels, if unchanged, would leave punctuality below 60% by 2030—well short of the minister’s target.

An extra €13 billion could close the gap. This sum would allow Deutsche Bahn to hit the 70% punctuality mark by 2029. The same investment might also push performance up by another five percentage points, helping meet other rail agenda goals.

Without the additional funds, the rail operator will struggle to improve. Even maintaining today’s service levels could prove difficult under the current financial plan. The federal government now faces a choice. Matching past funding levels could secure Deutsche Bahn’s punctuality targets. But if no extra money arrives, delays will likely worsen, leaving trains running late more often than not.