A German train that was delayed by 13 minutes was not allowed to enter the station in Zürich, Switzerland

A Deutsche Bahn train operating on the Stuttgart-Zurich route did not reach Zurich's main station after accumulating a 13-minute delay. Passengers on Intercity 187 were told they would get off at Schaffhausen, a measure taken to avoid disrupting other services.

The announcement was made by the train driver, and the moment was filmed by one of the passengers. Subsequently, a spokesperson for Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) explained that trains arriving from Germany that are at least 13 minutes late can affect Zurich's entire rail timetable. Delays can thus be passed on to other trains.

The rule was introduced against the backdrop of Deutsche Bahn's repeated punctuality problems. In May 2025, Switzerland temporarily suspended the operation of the German company's trains on its territory and asked it to improve its services.

According to Swiss authorities, more than 80% of trains now arrive on time in Zurich. Germany and Switzerland continue to work to make the direct Stuttgart-Zurich connection safer and more predictable.