Deutsche Bahn saw strikes, diversions and record delays in 2023, but also more passengers than ever, signalling a departure from the coronavirus slump.

Deutsche Bahn sees passenger record in 2023

According to the transport association Allianz pro Scheine, people in Germany took a record number of train journeys in 2023.

During the year, passengers travelled a total of 104,2 billion passenger kilometres across the federal republic, compared to the previous record of 102 billion passenger kilometres set in 2019, before a coronavirus-related slump began to affect German rail. Passenger kilometres are calculated based on the number of passengers and the mean distance travelled by train.

Complain, but still take the train

With a third of long-distance Deutsche Bahn trains delayed - 3.200 of which were due to metal theft, according to Deutsche Bahn - and strikes in the spring and summer leading to mass disruption, train passengers in the federal republic had plenty to complain about when it came to service quality in 2023.

Figures released in early March 2024 unsurprisingly revealed that the 49-euro Deutschlandticket, introduced in May 2023 as a follow-up to the highly popular 9-euro ticket, has increased train passenger numbers by 16 percent. According to Deutsche Bahn, 60 percent of passengers use the ticket.

“We complain, but we travel by train,” Dirk Flege, the head of Allianz pro Scheine told the dpa.

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