Dectected disruption in the standard of service within local train commutes

The German government has announced an ambitious "Action Plan Quality in Rail Passenger Transport," effective from October 2023, aiming to significantly improve the quality of rail services over several years.

The rail transport system, which has faced major challenges such as outdated infrastructure, disruptions, construction sites, and a lack of personnel, will see several changes as part of this plan.

Dr. Detlef Neuhaus has been appointed as the Ombudsman for Quality, responsible for ensuring passenger interests and improvements. In addition, a professional "Quality Advocate" will be appointed to the state-owned Baden-Württemberg Public Transport Company (NVBW) to advocate for better communication and improvements.

Matthias Lieb, an acknowledged expert, has been appointed as the "ombudsman for quality" to look out for the interests of SPNV (S-Bahn, regional, and local train) passengers. He will serve as a quality ambassador and the point of contact for problems.

The action plan includes a bundle of various measures to improve the quality of rail transport. Honorary quality scouts will be on board the trains to identify structural quality defects and report them. Each region or traffic contract will be cared for by a quality manager who closely monitors quality and addresses weaknesses.

The state is supporting the companies in attracting specialist staff with various measures, forming an alliance with the industry. The state's traffic contracts with railway transport companies (EVU) are being revised to reweight penalties for not fulfilling agreed performances. If delays and train breakdowns are the company's own fault, the contract penalties will be higher.

On the other hand, penalties for quality problems caused by others will be lower, creating a targeted quality incentive for companies. The goal is to make rail transport as reliable as it used to be, when it was said: "punctual like the railroad."

Minister of Transport Winfried Hermann introduced the action plan on September 25, 2023, in Stuttgart. He emphasised the importance of reliable rail transport to retain new passengers who were won with the Germany ticket.

Contact details for the Ministry of Transport's Press Office and Citizen Liaison Officer are provided for further information. The ambitious expansion of services and cheap tickets have shown the limits of the current rail system, with time buffers shrinking and the failure rate increasing. The action plan represents a significant step towards addressing these challenges and improving rail transport in Germany.