By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Germany's esteemed reputation for unmatched efficiency took a significant hit during Euro 2024. As football fans flocked to various cities, they were disappointed to find the trains fell short of expectations. A supporters' group even remarked that the services were better during Russia's World Cup.
Fans appreciated the "sensational" travel deals, offering discounted or free local travel for ticket holders as part of a sustainability initiative. However, Thomas Concannon from the Football Supporters' Association noted persistent issues, suggesting the shock stemmed from an "assumed reputation about Germany that the trains run on time."
Lindsey and Darren Ramskill from Goole, East Yorkshire, attended six of England's seven matches and encountered overcrowded trains, inconsistent services, and poor communication. Lindsey remarked, “I’m not complaining about British trains anymore. Ours are better.”
Wiebe Wakker, a motivational speaker from the Netherlands, was less surprised due to his frequent travels. After the England vs. Netherlands semi final, his delayed journey from Dortmund included a sweltering carriage without functioning air conditioning, prompting him to take a taxi with some England fans.
Within Germany, frustration with the Deutsche Bahn national rail operator has been brewing for years. In 2023, only 64% of long distance trains ran on time, compared to Great Britain's declining punctuality rate of 67.8% in the year ending March 2023.
Calls for substantial investment are a recurring theme in Germany, part of a larger conversation about rejuvenating a sluggish economy. German transport lobby group Allianz pro Schiene compared spending on railway infrastructure across 14 European countries. Germany ranked 10th last year at €115 per person, while the UK was sixth, and Luxembourg led with €512 per head.
For Germans, the famous motto "Vorsprung durch Technik" (Headstart through Technology) belies a more sluggish reality. Europe's largest economy has struggled publicly for years with modernization. Analysts cite not only a lack of investment but also a failure to digitize the economy combined with excessive bureaucracy.
An example from Berlin illustrates the issue, residents are legally required to make an in person appointment to register a new address within two weeks, but appointments are scarce, with none available through mid September.
Professor Hubertus Bardt from the German Economic Institute (IW) highlights under investment in both private and public sectors. Railways have seen a patchwork approach to repairs, causing delays without resolving underlying issues. Major projects, like the five month overhaul of the Frankfurt to Mannheim line, are underway, but Bardt argues for a “huge programme” of broader spending beyond annual budgets.
Germany faces a daunting challenge with numerous bridges needing renovation or reconstruction, particularly in the west, where infrastructure built in the sixties and seventies is aging. Meanwhile, the east benefited from fresh investment after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.
Overall, Germany's economic outlook is troubling, with growth projections placing it at the bottom among G7 economies. The International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecast a mere 0.2% growth this year. The long standing labels of efficiency, unrivaled industry, and punctuality have begun to fade in reality, even as they persist in international perception.
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