One of the best train networks in the world is now in disarray
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn rail system is not what it used to be, wrote a Traveler reader this week. Photo: iStock ICE IS NOT VERY HOT The once mighty Deutsche Bahn (German Rail), a symbol of punctuality, reliability and other German stereotypes, has fallen into a heap of ruin. Weekend trips on the main Berlin-Kologne route on DB’s flagship high-speed ICE had our trains canceled on the way there and again on the way back. For the latter, passengers are advised to board the next highly booked ICE, which is then completely overloaded. The highlight of the glory was the announcement that the train would not depart until people had unconditionally disembarked, and if not, the federal police would be called in to clean the train. Avoid as much as possible. Carsten Roever, Brunswick, Vic THIS WEEK’S LETTER AGE AGE In response to Lee Tulloch’s column ( Traveler July 9 ), in 2021, my wife and I will be attending a family reunion at Airlie Beach. When we tried to rent a car, we fo