Just injecting my own useless experience, I’ve never had any delays on non-DB services in Europe.
Just had delays on virtually every single DB service I ever took. Once had a 4 hour delay, and another time, the train was on time up until the Polish border, where the DB staff took over, and it somehow managed to get into Berlin an hour late.
Complaining about Deutsche Bahn is widely considered one of the nation’s favourite pastimes. And there is a lot of time that needs to pass while you walt for your train.
I’ve mostly taken only IC or ICE, but my experience is that at least the trains are a lot more comfortable when you get delayed, compared to British trains. Once had a delay of 2 hours going into Glasgow (so 6 hours instead of 4, or something like that), and I was aching all over from that. Massively crowded trains too, because trains had been cancelled the two days prior.
Deutsche Bahn is very capable of offering that kind of experience. Even better on a hot summer day when the AC is broken and you’re tucked in cozily between fellow travellers, right next to the toilet.
Good thing I don’t do summer travel…
That said, once from München to Frankfurt I had a train which felt really new and modern and clean… Until we got closer to Frankfurt and somehow someone had managed to urinate all over the floor in the toilet, pooling all the way out into the corridors.
Just an anecdote, to put all this in perspective:
About 20 years ago in mid winter, I was standing on the platform at Görlitzer Ubahnhof in a severe blizzard. The Ubahn is elevated at this point and is completely exposed to the elements. The train arrived two minutes later than timetabled and a woman next to me said ‘Typical! A little bit of snow and everything falls apart!’
That’s really how it used to be.
I lived in Berlin from 1992 to 1997. Based on my experience during that time, I’d say that it is a Berlin thing. 
It’s a gentle introduction to the Frankfurter Bahnhofsviertel
The glory days
I’ve been to Frankfurt twice now and I still don’t really see it as all that bad…
Reminds me a little of parts of Brussels too.
It’s the Bahnhofsviertel I was mentioning, really mainly 3 streets - but they are notorious for very good reasons.
I understand, I’ve seen/heard that reputation a lot, but thankfully I never had anything untoward happen to me, and that’s with staying right next to the Bahnhofsviertel once…
That said, the road between the station and the Bahnhofsviertel is an absolute nightmare to navigate on foot, or at least it was when I was there last year. So much building work going on there, people crowded into narrow paths, I actually did wonder if I was going to get mugged or pickpocketed at some point, or fall into the road traffic.
Well it really depends where exactly you stand there…It’s really only a very small area, but it’s a condensed hell. If you’ve managed to avoid that, you’re fine. If not, keep your head down and move fast, like anywhere in the world.
I know Frankfurt pretty well, have been there many, many times, ever since childhood, had relatives there. It’s got some nice places, but overall it’s not my thing.
@anon27364116 i will be in Germany late September and towards the end of the trip making my way from Munich to Amsterdam mainly by car. Thinking of swinging by Cologne for a day or 2. Would appreciate any touristy tips or ideas. Cheers
I was there on business a few months back. We had some staff over from the UK so we took them out to various restaurants and bars. Tourist wise, we took them on a tour around the city centre but the cathedral is the must do attraction. It’s fascinating architecture but unimaginably high.
There are a couple of former Nazi prisons that have been turned into museums which, whilst very dark, are actually quiet interesting if you are into WW2 history
Depends on what you would like to do. Generally speaking, Cologne is a great place to live, party, socialize and a good culture scene. It’s not the most picturesque of German cities though and not a massive sightseeing location, the charm is more in the different quarters/Veedel.
Kölner Dom/Cologne Cathedral is the obvious touristy destination and a must and most of the one-day type tourism will be around that area at the Cathedral/Rhine Promenade, take a walk over the Hohenzollernbrücke and the nearby Old City/Altstadt etc. - all close by. if you’re into old churches there’s a hell of a lot of them too, obviously museums, parks etc. Then have a Kölsch, preferrably many more.
Thanks guys looking forward to spending a couple of weeks in Germany. Might even try and catch a Bundesliga match. Or a Europa League game involving LFC……long shot but you never know.
Don’t go to Bayern. They are evil incarnate.
If you’re down south try Freiburg. They are a nicely run club with good values and passionate fans. If in Hamburg it has to be St Pauli. Unfortunately Union Berlin’s stadium is just too small and getting tickets is impossible.
For most BL Clubs getting tickets is much easier and cheaper than for the PL.