I travelled with DB to enjoy the 2022 9-€ Ticket. The cross-border train ČD drove into Germany got stopped in the first city and got cancelled because it “didn’t meet standards”. I mean, it was missing a car, there was no AC, it was super loud and crowded, but it was a train and went on time. DB’s replacement was literally nothing so I was stuck waiting in Schwandorf for an hour. This happens dozens of times every year.

Meanwhile, my trip last year was an orderly experience, probably because I went through former East Germany via Dresden instead. Communists did a lot of bad shit but they understood the power of trains (and streetcars).