A recent study by Transport & Environment (T&E) has revealed that Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Flixtrain rank poorly among European rail operators, with DB placing 16th and Flixtrain 20th out of 27 companies.

DB has received high marks for its booking experience, scoring 9.6, and an overall travel experience score of 8.7, indicating strengths in customer service despite its low reliability ranking.

Flixtrain is identified as the cheapest option among the evaluated services, costing just three cents per kilometer, which is four times cheaper than DB and 5.5 times cheaper on the Hamburg-Berlin route.

Despite its low prices, DB struggles with reliability, scoring only 2.5 and ranking near the bottom, while Flixtrain has a higher score of 3.9, placing 17th overall.

Trenitalia received the best score for special fares and discounts, while SBB achieved the highest reliability score across Europe at 7.8.

However, DB is noted for its punctuality issues, with the study indicating it is close to being the least punctual service among its peers.

In contrast, Italian rail company Trenitalia and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) topped the ranking, with scores of 7.7 and 7.4 respectively, particularly excelling in special fares and reliability.

T&E's evaluation considered eight criteria, with ticket prices weighted most heavily, followed by reliability, booking experience, onboard amenities, night trains, and bicycle transport.

The evaluation, which emphasizes sustainability, includes members like the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) and the Naturschutzbund Deutschland.

The assessment emphasizes the need for both DB and Flixtrain to improve their service quality to better compete in the European rail market, as stated by Alexander Kaas Elias from the Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD).

On the other end of the spectrum, Eurostar ranks last due to high ticket prices and low reliability, charging nearly double the European average per kilometer without offering better service.

Overall, the study highlights a pressing need for improvement in service and quality from both DB and Flixtrain to enhance their competitiveness in Germany and across Europe.