Same here in Canada. I used to take the train between Montreal and Toronto frequently and I don't actually remember it ever being on time. It usually was 30-60 minutes late, since Via Rail shared rail with freight trains, but had a lower priority so it often needed to wait.
I must commend the Berlin transit system. Except for the occasional strike, I found it to be extremely efficient, clean, and rather polite. Especially the trams.
I've heard very many complaints about Deutsche Bahn though. On the other hand here in Switzerland trains are crazy good, perhaps not as much as Japan, but if you have a 5 minutes connection you can normally assume you'll make it.
Deutsche Bahn is notorious for being late or having technical problems. It's like a running gag. Everytime I have to take a train in Germany, I make sure to have at least 1-2 hours between connecting trains/flights.
And yes, Japanese trains are crazily accurate. Not only are they (almost) always perfectly on time, they also stop exactly at the position that is indicated on the platform, so you can line up and wait right in front of the train door.
I have a strange compulsion to leave for things much earlier than I need to, and I arrive early always. I honestly didn’t notice, looked down of the platform and checked when the next train was coming, and wait. The tram was fantastic, I took it every day and really liked it. I was there for three months in the fall.
I see. I lived almost a decade in Berlin, and both in west and east. I cannot say enough good things about the trains. However I will not say they are always on time!
I lived in the Washington, DC area for ten years and used its train system every day, and it pales in comparison to Berlin. I've also tried New York City, San Francisco, Paris, Sydney, Moscow, and Atlanta, and Berlin was just top notch. I envy you immensely. The cleanliness, politeness of its passengers, above and under, it was just wonderful.
