The Green Party is intensifying pressure on Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national railway company, to dramatically improve passenger service offerings, citing persistent and unacceptable shortcomings in critical areas like internet connectivity and onboard catering. Mathias Gastel, the Green Party’s parliamentary expert on rail transport, voiced strong criticism in an interview with the “Rheinische Post”, highlighting that DB’s Wi-Fi remains a significant and ongoing source of frustration for travelers.
Gastel emphasized the reasonable expectation of passengers, particularly on Intercity Express (ICE) trains, to possess reliable digital access, essential for seamless work and staying informed during their journeys. He also pointed to substantial improvement needs in the food and beverage services provided. “Passengers traveling for hours rely on consistent and quality offerings” he stated.
The criticism comes against a backdrop of government resistance to proposals from several federal states to compensate passengers for disruptions like failed Wi-Fi and closed onboard restaurants. The Federal Government has rejected these demands, suggesting the railway company will “voluntarily” address these issues, a phrasing critics have labelled insufficient.
Gastel expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of financial penalties as a solution. He argued that a more constructive approach would involve establishing clear, measurable targets for DB by the Federal government, the railway’s owner. “Management needs to be held accountable against these specific goals” he insisted, suggesting a fundamental shift in oversight and responsibility is necessary to truly address the systemic issues plaguing passenger experience. The lack of proactive measures and the government’s reluctance to impose sanctions raise questions about DB’s commitment to passenger satisfaction and the efficacy of current government oversight of the vital national infrastructure.