It's a shocker that one of most dismal train stations is found in a nation synonymous with top-notch

In an astounding revelation from last year's European Railway Station Index, Bremen Hauptbahnhof in has been ranked as the continent's worst , plagued by perpetual delays and scant amenities for commuters.

This damning review comes off the back of vigorous scrutiny of 50 of Europe's busiest stations, judging them on their passenger volumes. The report exposed that visitors at Bremen Hauptbahnhof endure an average delay of 11 minutes, with nearly half of its trains 43 per cent to be exact running behind schedule.

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The findings stand in stark contrast to the accolades showered upon Zurich Hauptbahnhof in Switzerland, which took home the title of Europe's premier station, reports .

Besides the tiresome wait times, Bremen's hub grapples with a paltry selection of onward travel links and a conspicuous absence of complimentary Wi-Fi services a feature many deem indispensable in todays e-ticket era.

While travellers at Zurich's buzzing terminal can meander through an assortment of 106 retail outlets and relish choices at 53 eateries, Bremen offers a modest nine shops and just 15 spots to grab a bite.

Narrowly dodging the bottom spot is Munich-Pasing, another black mark for Germany in the index, with Berlin's Zoologischer Garten, Berlin-Gesundbrunnen, and Berlin Ostkreuz languishing amongst the worst five, despite Berlin's central station securing a position in the top ranks.

Yet, despite these startling rankings, it's often said that Germany boasts an "excellent" public transportation network, where buses, trams, and subways are "rarely late or so the travellers' anecdotes go. Germany has been ranked fourth in a list of European countries with the best public transport, according to Greenpeace.

The German government also provides a public transport subsidy ticket that was introduced in 2020. This state-funded scheme allows employees to claim back the cost of local public transport tickets.

Germany is renowned for its innovative public transport initiatives, including a €9 (£7.90) monthly ticket that gained popularity in 2022. These subsidies are part of a drive to encourage Germans to opt for greener modes of transport. There are plans to roll out a €49 (£41) monthly ticket that will cover regional rail, metro, trams and bus travel across the country.