13/07/2026
One of the biggest downsides of living in Germany, in my experience, is the public transport system especially the trains.
Before moving here, I expected German trains to be the definition of punctuality. Instead, I’ve learned that with the DB train system, there’s always a chance your train will be delayed or even cancelled at the last minute.
If you have somewhere important to be, you almost have to plan to leave one or even two hours earlier than necessary because you never know what surprise awaits you at the station. A journey that should be straightforward can quickly turn into multiple platform changes, delays, or waiting around for replacement trains.
Ironically, it reminds me of life in Lagos. In Lagos, you leave home early because of unpredictable traffic. In Germany, you leave home early because of unpredictable trains. Different reasons, same survival strategy.
Don’t get me wrong Germany’s public transport network reaches almost everywhere, and that’s something I really appreciate. I just wish reliability matched the reputation.
Has your experience with DB been similar, or have I just been unlucky? 😂🚆