Deutsche Bahn has demanded that public broadcaster ZDF remove or substantially re-edit the documentary "Am Puls mit Dunja Hayali – Unsere Bahn: geliebt, verflucht – gefährlich?" from its Mediathek streaming service, citing what it calls inaccurate portrayals and omissions of recent infrastructure improvements.
ZDF has corrected two data points flagged by the railway: the number of digital signal boxes, revised from zero to three, and a punctuality comparison with Belgium's railway, clarified as covering all passenger traffic rather than long-distance services only. The railway obtained a cease-and-desist declaration and argues the film ignores progress such as the Riedbahn overhaul and track renewals on the Hamburg–Berlin line. Deutsche Bahn also contends it was misrepresented regarding the 2022 Burgrain derailment that killed five people.
ZDF rejected the criticism as an inadmissible attempt to suppress critical journalism. The broadcaster has separately announced a new Frontal documentary on Deutsche Bahn, scheduled for 4 August.