Several times in the past years, Switzerland’s train company, SBB, had to take measures to mitigate the impact of chronically late Deutsche Bahn (DB) trains operating on the Swiss network.
In 2024, for instance, only about 64 percent of DB’s long-distance passenger trains reached their destination on time; in Switzerland, the equivalent figure was 93.2 percent.
In order to end disruptions to its own punctual and well-coordinated train network, the SBB decided to end, from 2025, some of Switzerland-bound DB trains at the border in Basel, and move the passengers onto Swiss trains for the rest of their journey.
Among the chronically late arrivals are DB's EuroCity service from Hamburg to Interlaken Ost, as well as the train from Dortmund to Zurich - both of which are no longer allowed to operate within Switzerland.
(Trains returning to Germany from Switzerland on these routes continue to run as usual, however – the Swiss are only concerned about punctuality on their own side of the border).
Now another Swiss canton is taking similar measures
Schaffhausen which, like Basel, lies in the border with Germany’s, is also fed up with Deutsche Bahn's constant delays, according to media reports.
In a letter that cantonal authorities sent to SBB, they asked that the company split the chronically-late Stuttgart to Zurich connection in Singen, just north of the German-Swiss border, so that passengers travelling to Zurich can board SBB trains and finally arrive at their destination on time.
"The people of Schaffhausen have a right to reliable connections to Zurich," the letter states.
There is no response yet about what action the SBB will take.
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