In a rare protest over hygiene standards, passengers aboard a German intercity train from Munich to Hamburg were forced to disembark after crew members declared the train too dirty to continue the journey.
About an hour into the trip on Tuesday, the train unexpectedly stopped in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg. Passengers were left stunned when an onboard announcement declared: “We apologise, but we as train crew need to make a statement. This train is too dirty for us to travel any further,” according to local newspaper Muenchner Merkur.
One passenger, Tom Junkersdorf, shared his experience on LinkedIn, posting photos of what appeared to be a clean carriage. He said many onboard were confused, with one passenger even asking if the announcement was a prank.
Germany’s national railway company, Deutsche Bahn, later confirmed the incident and issued an apology, stating that the train had “accidentally been put into service without being cleaned.” A spokesperson called it an “isolated incident” and assured affected passengers were offered alternative travel arrangements within the hour.
“We deeply regret what happened and are investigating internally to prevent such mistakes in the future,” the spokesperson said.
Deutsche Bahn has faced growing criticism in recent years over delays, cancellations, and maintenance issues. The company drew international attention during last year’s European Football Championships, when fan, and even players, arrived late due to train disruptions. Then-Transport Minister Volker Wissing later remarked that the company had “overstretched itself.”
This latest disruption underscores ongoing challenges for Deutsche Bahn as it struggles to restore public confidence in its services.
Written By Rodney Mbua
