Disrupted Journeys: BVG Chief Acknowledges Dependability Problems Every Fifteenth Time
The reliability of the Berlin U-Bahn network has taken a significant hit this year, with the network's performance falling to 93 percent in August, meaning that almost every 15th trip was cancelled. This is a dramatic fall from the 97.5 percent recorded in 2023 and the 99.2 percent in 2022.
The fleet of vehicles for the Berlin U-Bahn network is outdated, and the reliability issues have been ongoing for some time. In an effort to combat repeated delays, the BVG (Berliner Verkhrsbetriebe) has modified the frequency of the U2, U9, U4, U1, and U3 lines.
However, no specific time frame for resolving the issues was provided by the boss of BVG, Henrik Falk. He believes the key to resolving the issues will involve bringing in new vehicles, as some of the new vehicles have already been produced, but there is no binding delivery plan.
The Berlin U-Bahn network's reliability issues may affect the daily commute of many Berlin residents and a significant number of trips. The broader Deutsche Bahn network, which includes regional and long-distance trains, has been experiencing significant punctuality and reliability issues as well. As of mid-2025, only about 57.1% of Deutsche Bahn trains were reported on time, reflecting widespread delays and infrastructure problems.
Historically, Deutsche Bahn has struggled with infrastructure deficiencies, frequent delays, and passenger dissatisfaction. To improve these conditions and the network’s performance, Deutsche Bahn has launched a comprehensive restructuring and renovation program lasting until 2027. This includes overhauling 40 railway lines, extensive renovations like the nine-month closure and refurbishment of the Berlin-Hamburg rail line, efforts to increase on-time performance levels, and strategic infrastructure investments.
Despite these efforts, skepticism and criticism remain among users regarding the effectiveness and pace of these reforms. Experts emphasize that investment in reliability (maintenance, infrastructure upgrades) is more cost-effective and critical than expensive new construction, underscoring existing trade-offs between service availability and maintenance windows.
While specific punctuality statistics and historical reliability data for the Berlin U-Bahn alone are not available, the Berlin U-Bahn, as part of the city’s multimodal public transport, is indirectly affected by these infrastructural and operational challenges and ongoing improvements planned in the region. Despite the lack of clarity on the timeframe, there is some hope that the coming months will see a stabilisation of the service.
The ongoing reliability issues in the Berlin U-Bahn network could have implications for the city's public transit sector, potentially affecting not only the U-Bahn but also other modes of transportation. For instance, the finance industry might experience delays in employee commutes, and the wider transportation sector could face disruptions in the delivery of goods and services. To address these concerns, BVG's plans for new vehicles might require collaboration between the industry, finance, and public-transit sectors, focusing on better infrastructure and maintenance to improve the network's performance.
