TrainAtlasEurope's most delayed train routes for the week of 6-12 September 2026 are below. TrainAtlas analysed terminal arrivals across six countries and ranks route directions by the typical (median) arrival delay.
The two Berlin-Cologne directions tied at 34 minutes. Four routes shared the 24-minute mark, including Reggio di Calabria Centrale to Torino Porta Nuova.
The most delayed European train routes this week
| # | Route | Typical delay | Late (5+ min) | Trains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Köln HbfBerlin Südkreuz (Köln Hbf to Berlin Südkreuz) | 34min | 92% | 157 |
| 2 | Berlin SüdkreuzKöln Hbf (Berlin Südkreuz to Köln Hbf) | 34min | 92% | 74 |
| 3 | Berlin HbfDüsseldorf Hbf (Berlin Hbf to Düsseldorf Hbf) | 31.5min | 97% | 58 |
| 4 | Düsseldorf HbfBerlin Südkreuz (Düsseldorf Hbf to Berlin Südkreuz) | 31min | 95% | 63 |
| 5 | München HbfHamburg-Altona (München Hbf to Hamburg-Altona) | 28min | 82% | 78 |
| 6 | Berlin HbfKöln Hbf (Berlin Hbf to Köln Hbf) | 26min | 86% | 80 |
| 7 | Nürnberg HbfHamburg-Altona (Nürnberg Hbf to Hamburg-Altona) | 25.5min | 88% | 26 |
| T8 | Hannover HbfBuchholz(Nordheide) (Hannover Hbf to Buchholz(Nordheide)) | 24min | 92% | 89 |
| T8 | Krefeld HbfRheine (Krefeld Hbf to Rheine) | 24min | 87% | 75 |
| T8 | Reggio di Calabria CentraleTorino Porta Nuova (Reggio di Calabria Centrale to Torino Porta Nuova) | 24min | 70% | 27 |
The 24-minute routes are a tie. This page shows three of the four tied directions in positions T8-T8; Stuttgart Hbf to Hamburg Hbf is the fourth. Opposite directions count separately.
Country coverage
| Country | Arrivals | Routes | 10+ min routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 174,778 | 1737 | 72 |
| France | 64,812 | 818 | 5 |
| Italy | 51,204 | 574 | 5 |
| Poland | 45,422 | 529 | 3 |
| Finland | 7,248 | 47 | 0 |
| Ireland | 4,223 | 45 | 0 |
Poland, Finland and Ireland are included in the Europe aggregate, but did not meet the five-route threshold for a standalone country page this week. Britain and Spain are not included in this European report because their current terminal-arrival gates were not met or verified.
How we measure this
- Arrival delay, not departure.
- We measure how late a train actually arrives at its terminal.
- Median, not average.
- The median across every tracked run limits the effect of a single extreme service.
- A 25-train floor.
- A route needs at least 25 tracked runs to enter the ranking.
TrainAtlas is independent and not affiliated with any rail operator. These are our own measurements from public data, not official punctuality statistics.
Frequently asked questions
Which European train route is the most delayed right now?
For the week of 6-12 September 2026, Köln Hbf to Berlin Südkreuz and the reverse direction tied at a 34-minute median arrival delay.
Why are some countries not listed separately?
Country pages require at least five qualifying route directions. A country can still contribute to the Europe aggregate without having a standalone page.
How is train delay measured?
We use terminal arrival delay, the route median, and the share arriving five or more minutes late.