How German trains became the shame of a nation

When the 10pm service of Berlin’s U2 metro line failed to set off from the station, its frazzled driver finally snapped. “Get away from the doors!” he bellowed, leaping out to berate a young woman as she pawed at the broken, flashing-red buttons on the side of the train. “Don’t touch the doors!” Unbeknownst to the driver, who seemed to think the woman’s button-mashing had caused the breakdown, Germany’s entire rail system had just been crippled by a software glitch. For the next two hours, hundreds of thousands of Germans were left stranded on platforms or sweltering in packed carriages...