Not the night trains the country was waiting for
04 December 2024
Germany's train system has been under attack for delays and cancellations by its citizens and tourists alike. Now, it adds another grotesque chapter to its history: reportedly, the country's biggest train operator, Deutsche Bahn, has to deploy so-called "ghost trains" to be ridden around Berlin during the night as the city doesn't provide enough sidings where the trains can be parked overnight.
According to a recent investigation, five or six ICE trains are on the move for several hours each night. It is highly problematic to have trains running empty when both electricity and fuel have become critical resources. Also, the staff members appointed are then mostly unavailable for rides during the day, causing additional delays or cancellations.
 | Jasper Bennink In a fragile train system that requires every single employee available for regular rides, the practices in Berlin serve as a warning. Social media users mentioned the same practices happening in other German cities as well. In Germany, there are over 4000 train driver positions unfilled at the moment, according to a recent study by the German Economic Institute. In the past few years, many old train drivers have retired while new ones increasingly consider the job unattractive when starting a family. With plans to shift more traffic to rail, it is expected that, in the future, another several thousand train drivers will be needed annually. |
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.