Ironically, the folks here that have made experience with the state operated railway (Deutsche Bundesbahn) back when it existed (until 1993) say mostly positive

Ironically, the folks here that have made experience with the state operated railway (Deutsche Bundesbahn) back when it existed (until 1993) say mostly positive things, especially compared to today. The modern German railway is a combination of both the state and a private company. So we get a for-profit monopoly that's ripping you off but also gets subsidized by the state. The worst of both worlds. This model of kind-of privatization is used in Germany in a few areas and it's god awful for everyone involved, like with the hospitals. I don't like falling politics especially here on HN but I cannot for the life of me understand why this model is still being defended by some people.