Chaos on the Tracks: Bavaria's Train Woes
Critics from the political left lambaste the Ministry of Transport and Railways, alleging "decades of inefficiency".
In the heart of Germany, Bavaria's train system is currently experiencing a 30-year low in punctuality, with the most delayed train in the entire nation ending its journey in Baden-Württemberg. The state-owned company's reliability has been questionable for years, with the German parliament continuing to debate this issue.
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Enter Luigi Pantisano, the fresh face of Stuttgart in the German parliament, who doesn't mince his words. Recounting his recent trip from Stuttgart to Konstanz, Pantisano laments, "Everything was there except for a punctual train. Delays of 2 hours. Train cancellations. Overcrowded trains. Many families with kids." The overwhelming consensus among his fellow travelers? They may opt for their cars the next time.
In a scathing X-post, Pantisano takes the CDU's transport policy and its new Minister, Patrick Schneider, to task. However, Pantisano sees the issues with Germany's infrastructure extending far beyond the tracks and roads. "The transport policy in this country is completely misguided," he decries, "From the Minister of Transport to the board of the train company, there have been failures for decades."
Taking on the Train and the Ministry of Transport
Pantisano's criticism of the German state-owned company isn't unjustified. For years, the company has been breaking its own negative records. In 2022, for instance, one out of every three long-distance trains was delayed[2]. Ultimately, the buck stops with the Ministry of Transportation, which has faced criticism both within the state and from external critics, such as Landesverkehrsminister Winfried Hermann (Greens), due to statements like the recent one about Mercedes-Benz[4].
The Left's Bold Criticism
The Left, known for their candidness, has taken the new federal government to task on numerous fronts. Recently, Pantisano lashed out at the SPD and CDU in a series of X-posts following the Berlin election in 2023. His current critique maintains that people unfamiliar with train policy occupy positions of responsibility, ultimately playing into the hands of the car lobby. "The climate is going to hell," he adds, "It's disgusting!"[1]
Enrichment Insights:
- Hydrogen Trains: In an effort to improve sustainability, Bayern has contracted Siemens Mobility to supply hydrogen trains for non-electrified routes. Starting from late 2026, these hydrogen trains will replace diesel trains on the Mühldorf – Tüßling – Burghausen route, marking a step towards cleaner and quieter transportation[3].
- Improvements Needed: General concerns about the reliability and punctuality of train services in Germany, including Bavaria, are common, involving delays, cancellations, and the need for infrastructure improvements and more efficient management practices[2].
In the ongoing debate about Germany's infrastructure, Luigi Pantisano, a member of the German parliament, has criticized both the state-owned company's policy-and-legislation and the Ministry of Transport for their role in the reliability issues plaguing the nation's train system. The Left, known for their candidness, has also taken issue with the new federal government, accusing them of prioritizing politics over a sustainable and efficient general-news.
