Cornelia Brelowski: Time to relax – Berlin and the German reliability myth

TEXT & PHOTOS: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI

Living in Berlin nowadays means backup plans for almost every aspect of your life – the same may well apply for many visitors. Please note, that the internationally spread myth about German precision does not apply in Berlin. In fact, the Wilhelm Busch saying “Firstly, things turn out differently, and secondly, than you think” applies as much as it did in the 19th century.

It all started with the notorious building delays of the new airport. The repeatedly pushed opening of the BER made for a nationwide joke – a Berlin Daily even had a day count on the front page. The final opening in 2020 marked a delay of nine years, completing a total planning and building phase of 20 years. Consequently, no Berliner is agitated anymore when it comes to peanuts such as the Overground not running or the garbage not being collected, though the latter does prove a significant nuisance, especially during summer months. Is this Naples or Berlin? some visitors might wonder. Berliners don’t wonder, they take it as it comes. Residents have been known for stopping garbage teams in the street and redirecting them to their house. This week, I had the opportunity to talk to the recycling team as I had spotted their truck from the window, and inquired innocently, why our tons of neatly collected plastic waste had not been collected for months. “Oh, we were called somewhere else,” the man said earnestly. Hm.

Want to arrive on time? Use a bicycle. Photo: Michal Parzuchowski on Unsplash

Believe me, German reliability and precision is a persistent preconception everywhere but here. On my recent return from the US, I encountered last-minute obstacles from the moment I entered the boarding area at Newark airport – we had to change planes at the last minute for not disclosed security reasons. However, the group of Berliners being herded into a different boarding section with an equally undisclosed boarding delay seemed strangely undisturbed. People simply started queuing again, worked at the designated desks, or had a snack. When boarding of the new plane finally started an hour late, everything went so swiftly and quietly that the pilot felt obliged to pay us a compliment. They didn’t realise that we are used to this. Once landed in Berlin, we were stuck immediately: the gangway didn’t work. “Welcome to Berlin,” a fellow passenger announced to his US neighbour, “be advised that from now on, nothing will work as it is supposed to!”

Cornelia Brelowski: Time to relax – Berlin and the German reliability myth

Left: The Berlin Overground is great – as long as it’s running. Photo: Cornelia Brelowski. Right: Want to arrive on time? Use a bicycle. Photo: Yc Liao on Unsplash

Travelling by train in Germany? Bring a day’s worth of buffer time. We had a nationwide budget approved to better the situation, and they started construction on all tracks at once. As for Berlin, the Overground is great – as long as it’s running. So, please make sure to always have alternative options at hand, or simply resort to common sense and rent a bike. By the way, as of December, the airport express will stop serving Berlin’s North. Meaning, from Wedding, Tegel and Mitte you need to take the Overground. Meaning, you want to give yourself an extra hour to arrive at BER. At least, it will be open.