It's the age of the train, we're told - Europe is expanding and simplifying its international services and more and more people are choosing trains over planes for both domestic and cross-border trips. I'm one of those people - I'm fully on board with the (latest) golden age of rail and have enjoyed exploring France and further afield by train. It's a wonderful and relaxed way to travel - I've happily whiled away whole days reading books, gazing at lovely views, day-dreaming and drinking coffee/wine.
7 of the most beautiful train journeys in France There's only one tiny fly in the ointment - Deutsche Bahn. The German state rail operator runs German domestic services, but also an increasing number of international services, including the new Paris-Berlin direct route . To say that DB's reputation for reliability is poor would be a profound understatement.
And this isn't just a problem if you're going to Berlin, Munich or Hamburg - the country's inconveniently central position within Europe means that a lot of long-distance trips go through Germany. Here are my 5 tips for staying (relatively) sane while DB screws up your journey; Don't make plans You may be late - the punctuality rate for Deutsche Bahn's long-distance services in 2024 was 62.5 percent - the lowest figure since statistics began getting recorded in 2001.
Overall one in three DB trains are delayed. So do you feel lucky (punk)? The key here is not to make any firm plans for the time immediately after your arrival. .
