DB Fernverkehr, the long‑distance branch of Deutsche Bahn, cut the scheduled working hours of its travelling staff by roughly half an hour effective 1 March, citing the ongoing high number of train delays. The company’s head of long‑distance operations, Michael Peterson, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that, in addition to this reduction, a buffer of about an extra half hour is now planned for hand‑overs between ICE trains that are especially prone to disruptions. Together these measures allow up to 90 minutes of buffer time for personnel.
The changes are intended to relieve conductors, drivers and hospitality staff who, due to repeated delays, increasingly struggle with collapsing shift schedules. “We take our employees’ situation very seriously” Peterson said. “We steer against delays where we can”.
Last year DB Fernverkehr added 450 extra staff to absorb the hit from delays – this year the number rises by another 150, bringing the total to 600. “We are making large investments in this area” Peterson told the SZ. Thanks to a more resilient timetable, the company has already gained 2.5 percentage points in punctuality this year. “But I can’t offset the 20‑percentage‑point level of lateness caused by broken tracks and construction” he added.
The most recent employee discontent stemmed from a directive issued to train attendants that set out highly detailed guidelines on cleanliness and announcements. “The wording of the directive was, for some staff, confusing” Peterson admitted. “We have realized that we simply haven’t communicated enough”.