{"id":12142,"date":"2021-08-12T10:55:46","date_gmt":"2021-08-12T10:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=12142"},"modified":"2021-08-12T10:55:46","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T10:55:46","slug":"what-is-the-german-deutsche-bahn-german-trains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/what-is-the-german-deutsche-bahn-german-trains\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the German Deutsche Bahn?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, Germany’s\u00a0\u00d6ffentliche Verkehrsmittel <\/em>(m, public transit) are defined by a\u00a0Streik <\/em>(m, strike)<\/a> of Lokf\u00fchrer <\/em>(m, train drivers) of the Gewerkschaft <\/em>(f, labor union) GDL. Announced suddenly, the\u00a0Streik\u00a0<\/em>put the\u00a0Deutsche Bahn\u00a0<\/em>in a lot of trouble. But what is the\u00a0Deutsche Bahn<\/em>, and how does it work? And what’s with this\u00a0Streik<\/em>?<\/p>\n

What is the Deutsche Bahn<\/em>?<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\"Deutsche<\/a>

Image by author (Sten Ritterfeld), used with permission of Sten Ritterfeld.<\/p><\/div>\n

The\u00a0Deutsche Bahn<\/em>, often also abbreviated to Die Bahn\u00a0<\/em>(“the train”) is an\u00a0Aktiengesellschaft\u00a0<\/em>(public company) whose shares are wholly owned by the German\u00a0Bundesrepublik\u00a0<\/em>(Federal Republic)<\/a>. This means that it is technically a private company, it is in public hands. The\u00a0DB\u00a0<\/em>not only manages and runs the\u00a0Schienennetz\u00a0<\/em>(n, rail network), but also the Eisenb<\/em>ahnen <\/i>(f, trains) that run on them. At least, most of them. In recent years, more and more other private companies have gained access to the German\u00a0Schienennetz\u00a0<\/em>for improved competition. For example, with the current\u00a0Streik<\/em>, alternatives such as Flixtrain<\/em><\/a> could gain some customers and keep\u00a0Bahnreisende\u00a0<\/em>(m, train travelers) happy.<\/p>\n

At 33,600 km (20,878 miles), the German Schienennetz\u00a0<\/em>is the longest in Europe. Over 5 million\u00a0Passagiere\u00a0<\/em>(m, passengers) reach their destinations in 26,000\u00a0Personenz\u00fcgen\u00a0<\/em>(passenger trains) every day! With more than 336,000\u00a0Mitarbeiter\u00a0<\/em>(m, employees) all around the world, Die Bahn\u00a0<\/em>is also one of the largest mobility companies globally.<\/p>\n

In Germany,\u00a0die Bahn\u00a0<\/em>is often used for regional or intercity trips. A train from Berlin to Leipzig? There’s a fast ICE train that will get you there. Berlin to Frankfurt? Same. Arriving at the airport in K\u00f6ln<\/a>, and want to arrive at the\u00a0Hauptbahnhof\u00a0<\/em>(m, central station) to gawk at the city’s massive, record-breaking cathedral?<\/a> A regional train from DB is at your service.<\/p>\n

Besides\u00a0die Bahn<\/em>, there are hundreds of local\u00a0Verkehrsverb\u00fcnde\u00a0<\/em>(transportation systems) that run local trains, buses and trams. When you’re in a city, you most likely travel with them, but the moment you step outside of that city or specific city system,\u00a0die Bahn\u00a0<\/em>is probably what you’ll use (if you go by train, that is).<\/p>\n

Die Bahn\u00a0<\/em>is often known for being\u00a0versp\u00e4tet <\/em>(delayed), even though 94,6 percent of its trains were<\/a> p\u00fcnktlich\u00a0<\/em>(punctual, on time) last year, according to the company’s own numbers. Also now, with the\u00a0Streik<\/em>,\u00a0Versp\u00e4tungen\u00a0<\/em>(f, delays) are a huge concern. Many media outlets explain<\/a> what the\u00a0Rechte\u00a0<\/em>(n, rights) are of\u00a0Bahnreisende<\/em>, what they can do if their train doesn’t come.<\/p>\n

Anyway, now that we’re on the topic, what is this\u00a0Streik\u00a0<\/em>about?<\/p>\n

“V\u00f6llig \u00fcberzogen”<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n