A new website called BahnBet allows users to place bets on how late their train will be, using fictional money. Created by Vienna-based artist Caio van Caarven, the site draws on live timetable data from Deutsche Bahn to offer a satirical take on the frustration of rail delays.
Launched last month, BahnBet attracted over 150,000 visits on its first day. New users start with €1,000 (£872) in fictional currency, and winnings are determined by how closely their prediction matches the actual arrival time. The site features trains from ten countries, including the UK.
Van Caarven, who describes himself as a 'railway fan', spent 60 to 80 hours over two months developing the platform. He told Techbook that it 'transforms cultural frustration into satirical entertainment'. The top three users each month receive a prize from his online store.
Deutsche Bahn has not yet responded to the site; van Caarven joked that the reaction 'has been delayed'. The railway operator reported that only 60% of its trains were on time in 2025, with 40% delayed or cancelled. Passenger Inga Nielsen, 29, told Reuters: 'The main reason to use Deutsche Bahn is that flying is becoming more expensive again, but you pay extra in stress.'
