It may make sense from some technical standpoint, but it does not make sense from a rider experience standpoint.
If you set out on a high-speed train journey, but your train stops at a station halfway to your destination, waits for an hour due to technical problems and then is canceled, that's a delay from the rider's perspective. However, when the Deutsche Bahn publishes its official on-time statistics, this train will not be counted as late.
In its public messaging, the Deutsche Bahn emphasizes its on-time rate. "We have an on-time rate of 65%" sounds like "You'll arrive on-time 65% of the time." If you're actually sitting in the middle of nowhere, with the next train an hour away, that doesn't feel like being "on time."
If you set out on a high-speed train journey, but your train stops at a station halfway to your destination, waits for an hour due to technical problems and then is canceled, that's a delay from the rider's perspective. However, when the Deutsche Bahn publishes its official on-time statistics, this train will not be counted as late.
In its public messaging, the Deutsche Bahn emphasizes its on-time rate. "We have an on-time rate of 65%" sounds like "You'll arrive on-time 65% of the time." If you're actually sitting in the middle of nowhere, with the next train an hour away, that doesn't feel like being "on time."