New German transport chief gets taste of train chaos

Germany's new transport minister experienced firsthand Monday the problems plaguing the country's rail network -- being forced to change train carriages during a trip after the air conditioning broke down.

Steffen Bilger was named to the post in a cabinet shuffle last month after his predecessor was sacked by Chancellor Friedrich Merz for insufficient progress on overhauling Germany's dilapidated infrastructure.

A key part of his role is turning around state-owned operator Deutsche Bahn and the rail network, which has faced mounting complaints in recent years due to dismal punctuality, breakdowns and poor service.

On a two-day trip, Bilger plans to gather information in northern Germany on train safety and station cleanliness.

But at the start of the journey, he had to change carriages in a train taking him from Berlin to Hamburg after the air conditioning stopped working, a transport ministry spokesman told AFP.

The breakdown, which came as Germany bakes in soaring summer temperatures, led to the carriage being closed off and forced passengers to find seats elsewhere on the train.

At the weekend, Bilger reportedly announced that bonus payments for Deutsche Bahn managers would be tied to targets set by the government, including on punctuality.