London to Berlin (Not my trip)

[caravanman]

I seem to spend a lot of time watching Youtube videos these days, now and again I actually find an entertaining one.

This guy travels from London to Berlin, but it does not go well! DB the German rail company seems to be having a very bad day/week/years... I am surprised by this as I thought Germany was a model of "efficiency and reliability"?

One thing the guy mentions and gets very upset about is that only 58% of DB trains arrive on time. He gets very vocal about the long delays, and it made me smile thinking about Amtrak's long delays. It made me wonder how much Amtrak compares at on time arrivals, is it better or worse than 58% ?

 

[MARC Rider]

Well, they say if you want to experience German efficiency, go to Switzerland.

 

[PaTrainFan]

I seem to spend a lot of time watching Youtube videos these days, now and again I actually find an entertaining one.

This guy travels from London to Berlin, but it does not go well! DB the German rail company seems to be having a very bad day/week/years... I am surprised by this as I thought Germany was a model of "efficiency and reliability"?

One thing the guy mentions and gets very upset about is that only 58% of DB trains arrive on time. He gets very vocal about the long delays, and it made me smile thinking about Amtrak's long delays. It made me wonder how much Amtrak compares at on time arrivals, is it better or worse than 58% ?

I thought Germans had a reputation for precision.

 

[allanorn]

I watched that video a couple of weeks ago. He used Eurostar to Amsterdam and then used the old DB InterCity loco-hauled carriages to Berlin. It was apparently a one-stop itinerary that was cheaper, but there were engine problems along the route. In fact, I think NS pulled an engine early which caused an additional two-hour delay on the German-Dutch border.

I noted he wasn't very aware of alternatives and how CIV works, but he may have been out of luck with that specific itinerary.

The recommended route is Eurostar to Brussels, ICE to Cologne, then another ICE to Berlin. Perhaps a little slower but also more services in those corridors. It involves two quick changes instead of one, so I can see the beauty of having a couple of hours in Amsterdam - but in that case I'd take the ferry from Harwich over Eurostar and have more time in Amsterdam.

 

[caravanman]

I watched that video a couple of weeks ago. He used Eurostar to Amsterdam and then used the old DB InterCity loco-hauled carriages to Berlin. It was apparently a one-stop itinerary that was cheaper, but there were engine problems along the route. In fact, I think NS pulled an engine early which caused an additional two-hour delay on the German-Dutch border.

I noted he wasn't very aware of alternatives and how CIV works, but he may have been out of luck with that specific itinerary.

The recommended route is Eurostar to Brussels, ICE to Cologne, then another ICE to Berlin. Perhaps a little slower but also more services in those corridors. It involves two quick changes instead of one, so I can see the beauty of having a couple of hours in Amsterdam - but in that case I'd take the ferry from Harwich over Eurostar and have more time in Amsterdam.

A lot of "Youtubers" will create artificial challenges in their journeys, to make the video more watchable, and generate more income, so one has to keep this aspect in mind. I felt this video was a fair comment on his experiences, he seemed quite upbeat until the trains started to let him down.

I confess that while I am aware of CIV in cases of disruption, but I have never looked into the details myself.

Like yourself, I have taken the ferry across from Harwich, at one time this even included an onward pass to any Dutch station.

I am still genuinely interested to know Amtrak's on time arrival percentages if anyone knows where to find that info?

 

[BlackDiamond]

I am still genuinely interested to know Amtrak's on time arrival percentages if anyone knows where to find that info?

It might be a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison given that much of Amtrak outside of the NEC is at the mercy of the freight railroads, whereas in Germany the government controls the infrastructure. Probably comparing the NEC to DB might be a better comparison.

 

[caravanman]

Both aspects would be of interest. I guess the Youtuber getting so irate about several hours delay pressed my buttons, having experienced much longer delays on Amtrak!