Vehicle malfunctions, such as doors not closing, were the cause of the average 10.5 percent* of all delay minutesincluding on the train routes in northern Germany.
*Average value from 2010 to 2019
Too few ICEs have been bought for years. Since we have years of preparatory processes, it takes a few years for the train to be on the track. These are failures of the past. It is also part of the analysis that the railways have some need for optimization in the maintenance and repair of the trains.
“Signal interference” was averaged in 7.1 percent* of cases cited as the cause of the delay.
*Average value from 2010 to 2019
In most cases, however, it is not the signal that is the problem, but the route behind it. Out of technical or weather-related reasons the route must be checked before continuing.
In concrete terms, this means: branches are lying on the tracks, a stone has become wedged in a switch or water paralyzes the track after heavy rain.
However, according to Philipp Kosok from the think tank Agora Verkehrswende, old, failure-prone mechanics also contribute to this. This can, for example, also be defective connections to the signal box, which is responsible for setting the points, among other things.
Also external influences such as storm damage can cause delays.
These weather-related failures are always the focus of public attention. When they do occur, they are very concentrated in large regions. In the end, however, they serve to ensure the safety of the passengers. You always have to weigh up punctuality and safety to a certain extent, and here I would always advocate safety.
According to Allianz-pro-Schiene managing director Dirk Flege, however, Deutsche Bahn itself also wears one complicity to the delays: For example, trees and bushes are often not cut back far enough, which makes it difficult to continue the journey.
In addition to weather-related damage, “external influences” also count vandalism or people on the tracks.