Why is their public transport so much better??? Or isn’t it???

[QuietlyFrench]

I’ve just come back from Germany, where I used several trains and the Munich underground. The trains were clean, efficient, on time, easy to use, and filled with nice, friendly, helpful locals.

I get back to the UK and my train is 40 minutes late, is packed, messy. This is not an isolated example - my trains are regularly late and in an absolute state.

Why are the Germans getting this so right and why are we getting it so wrong? Or am I just viewing the German system through rose-tinted specs based on a couple of good experiences?

I travel on Finnish trains from time to time (not as often as I used to but every few months at least, but used to travel every weekend) and only had trains be late a few times but once was very late and that was so annoying.

But the intercity trains are fabulous, far far better than trains in the UK, especially if you're travelling with young children as there's a play carriage with a slide and stuff, or if you want peace and quiet there's private carriages to book - did that when travelling during covid times so wouldn't have to wear a mask the whole journey.