UK delay data doesn't include cancelled trains, so I excluded them from the German data in our analysis.

The exact metrics for cancellations differ, but the ORR reports around 4% of trains fully and 2% part cancelled in GB. While Germany had 6.7% of stops cancelled in 2024. So it's broadly similar

The root issue, according to Deutsche Bahn themselves, is the poor condition of their rail infrastructure, which will cost billions to replace at a time when future funding remains uncertain

This causes issues across central Europe, with German delays spilling out into the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Austria

Britain and Germany generally use different metrics to measure punctuality, but using data provided by bahnvorhersage.de, I was able to compare the two networks directly.

DB's intercity trains are now more delayed than even Avanti, Britain's worst performing operator