diff --git a/config.json.example b/config.json.example
index c7401f8..9c7767e 100644
--- a/config.json.example
+++ b/config.json.example
@@ -1,20 +1,33 @@
 {
+  "discord": {
     "token": "",
-    "stations": ["Hamburg Hbf", "München Hbf", "Köln Hbf", "Amsterdam Centraal"],
-    "dbf": "https://dbf.finalrewind.org",
-    "server": , 
+    "server": ,
     "vc": ,
-    "random": true,
-    "emojis": true,
     "formatting": "┇",
-    "announcements": true,
-    "voice_announcements: [
-        {
-            "enabled": false,
-            "stations": {
-                "general": ""
-            }
+    "emojis": true
+  },
+  "connections": {
+    "stations": [
+      ""
+    ],
+    "blacklist": [],
+    "min_duration": 5,
+    "max_duration": null,
+    "max_wait_time": 6,
+    "timezone": "Europe/Berlin"
+  },
+  "announcements": {
+    "enabled": true,
+    "voice": [
+      {
+        "enabled": false,
+        "stations": {
+          "general": "general.aac",
         }
+      }
     ]
-    "blacklist": []
+  },
+  "http": {
+    "user_agent": "Gleiswechsel-Discord-Bot"
+  }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 2161cd4..53b8c97 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import discord
-from src.utils import config, logger
+from src.utils import logger
+from src.config import config
 from src.dc.handlers import rename_vc
 from src.dc.helpers import validate_channel
 from src.dc.commands import setup_commands
@@ -16,22 +17,21 @@ async def on_ready():
 
     if not _bot_initialized:
         _bot_initialized = True
-        server_id = config["server"]
-        server_vc_id = config["vc"]
+        server_id = config.discord.server
+        server_vc_id = config.discord.vc
         channel = validate_channel(bot=bot, server_id=server_id, channel_id=server_vc_id)
         await rename_vc(bot, voice_channel=channel)
     else:
         logger("Reconnected to discord gateway, this wont disturb your current ride")
 
 try:
-    bot.run(config["token"])
+    bot.run(config.discord.token)
 except:
     logger("Feher peim parsen des tokens", "fatal")
 
 '''
 TODO
 - discord status
-- config cleanup
 - multi language support
 - README
 '''
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/api/transitous.py b/src/api/transitous.py
index ed75d21..0f26fe0 100644
--- a/src/api/transitous.py
+++ b/src/api/transitous.py
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@ import random
 import json
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
-from src.utils import logger, config, get_train_name, convert_iso_string, validate_connection
+from src.utils import logger, get_train_name, convert_iso_string, validate_connection
+from src.config import config
 
-stations = config["stations"]
-blacklist = config["blacklist"]
-user_agent = config["http"]["user_agent"]
+stations = config.connections.stations
+blacklist = config.connections.blacklist
+user_agent = config.http.user_agent
 
 headers = {
     "User-Agent": f"{user_agent}"
diff --git a/src/config.py b/src/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..160486c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+import json
+import os
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Optional
+
+@dataclass
+class DiscordConfig:
+    token: str
+    server: int
+    vc: int
+    formatting: str
+    emojis: bool
+
+@dataclass
+class ConnectionsConfig:
+    stations: list[str]
+    blacklist: list[str]
+    min_duration: int
+    max_wait_time: int
+    timezone: str
+    max_duration: Optional[int] = None
+
+@dataclass
+class VoiceAnnouncementConfig:
+    enabled: bool
+    stations: dict[str, str]
+
+@dataclass
+class AnnouncementConfig:
+    enabled: bool
+    voice: list[VoiceAnnouncementConfig]
+
+@dataclass
+class HttpConfig:
+    user_agent: str
+
+@dataclass
+class Config:
+    discord: DiscordConfig
+    connections: ConnectionsConfig
+    announcements: AnnouncementConfig
+    http: HttpConfig
+
+def _load_config() -> Config:
+    with open("config.json", "r") as file:
+        raw = json.load(file)
+
+    return Config(
+        discord=DiscordConfig(**raw["discord"]),
+        connections=ConnectionsConfig(**raw["connections"]),
+        announcements=AnnouncementConfig(
+            enabled=raw["announcements"]["enabled"],
+            voice=[VoiceAnnouncementConfig(**v) for v in raw["announcements"]["voice"]],
+        ),
+        http=HttpConfig(**raw["http"]),
+    )
+
+config = _load_config()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/dc/handlers.py b/src/dc/handlers.py
index fa318cc..c2c00c9 100644
--- a/src/dc/handlers.py
+++ b/src/dc/handlers.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import asyncio
 import random
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, date
 
-from src.utils import logger, channel_formatting, choose_connection, config, get_sound_path
+from src.utils import logger, channel_formatting, choose_connection, get_sound_path
+from src.config import config
 
 _scheduled_task: asyncio.Task | None = None
 
@@ -62,7 +63,6 @@ async def _schedule_next_transfer(bot: discord.Bot, arrival, voice_channel: disc
         if wait_seconds > announcement_countdown:
             wait_until_end_announcement = wait_seconds - announcement_countdown
             await asyncio.sleep(wait_until_end_announcement)
-            await asyncio.sleep(5)
             await announcer("ende", voice_channel, destination)
             await asyncio.sleep(announcement_countdown)
         else:
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ async def _schedule_next_transfer(bot: discord.Bot, arrival, voice_channel: disc
 async def announcer(announcement: str, voice_channel: discord.VoiceChannel, destination = None):
     from src.dc.embeds import build_info_embed, build_announcement_embed
 
-    announcements_enabled = config.get("announcements", True)
-    voice_announcement_enabled = config["voice_announcements"][0]["enabled"]
+    announcements_enabled = config.announcements.enabled
+    voice_announcement_enabled = config.announcements.voice[0].enabled
 
     if announcements_enabled:
         if len(voice_channel.members) > 0:
diff --git a/src/dc/helpers.py b/src/dc/helpers.py
index 23ee76f..3efc8e8 100644
--- a/src/dc/helpers.py
+++ b/src/dc/helpers.py
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@ from  src.utils import logger
 
 def validate_channel(bot: discord.bot, server_id: int, channel_id: int):
     guild = bot.get_guild(server_id)
-    channel = guild.get_channel(channel_id)
 
     if guild is None:
         logger(f"Es konnte kein Server mit der ID {server_id} gefunden werden", "fatal")
+        return False
 
+    channel = guild.get_channel(channel_id)
     if not isinstance(channel, discord.VoiceChannel):
         logger(f"Es konnte kein VC mit der id {channel_id} gefunden werden", "fatal")
         return False
diff --git a/src/utils.py b/src/utils.py
index ea0989b..2b48988 100644
--- a/src/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-import json
 import os
 import importlib
 import random
 from pathlib import Path
-from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone, date
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+from src.config import config
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
 
 import src.data.operators as operators
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ from src.data.emojis import emoji_list
 
 _operator_mtime = None
 
-with open("config.json", "r") as file:
-    config = json.load(file)
 
 def logger(msg, log_type="info") -> str:
     status = log_type.upper()
@@ -37,7 +35,7 @@ def validate_connection(start_time: str, end_time: str, station_departure: str)
         logger(f"Verbindung liegt bereits in der Vergangenheit: {start_dt}", "error")
         return False
 
-    max_wait_time = config.get("max_wait_time", 6)
+    max_wait_time = config.connections.max_wait_time
     start_dt = datetime.fromisoformat(start_time.replace("Z", "+00:00"))
     if start_dt > now + timedelta(hours=max_wait_time):
         logger(f"Verbindung liegt zu weit in der Zukunft: {start_dt}", "error")
@@ -47,13 +45,13 @@ def validate_connection(start_time: str, end_time: str, station_departure: str)
     trip_duration = (end_dt - station_departure_dt).total_seconds()
     trip_duration_minutes = str(timedelta(seconds=trip_duration))
 
-    min_duration = config.get("min_duration", 10)
+    min_duration = config.connections.min_duration
     min_duration_seconds = min_duration * 60
     if trip_duration < min_duration_seconds:
         logger(f"Verbindung ist mit {trip_duration_minutes} zu kurz (mindestens {min_duration} Minuten gewollt)", "error")
         return False
 
-    max_duration = config.get("max_duration", "")
+    max_duration = config.connections.max_duration
     if max_duration:
         max_duration_seconds = max_duration * 60
         if max_duration_seconds < trip_duration:
@@ -63,7 +61,7 @@ def validate_connection(start_time: str, end_time: str, station_departure: str)
     return True
 
 def convert_iso_string(isostring) -> str:
-    timezone = config.get("timezone", "Europe/Berlin")
+    timezone = config.connections.timezone
     dt = datetime.fromisoformat(isostring.replace('Z', '+00:00'))
     dt = dt.astimezone(ZoneInfo(timezone))
 
@@ -72,9 +70,9 @@ def convert_iso_string(isostring) -> str:
     return dt.strftime('%H:%M')
 
 def channel_formatting(mode: str) -> str:
-    formatting = config.get("formatting", "")
+    formatting = config.discord.formatting
 
-    if config.get("emojis", True):
+    if config.discord.formatting:
         emoji = emoji_list.get(mode)
         if emoji is None:
             emoji = emoji_list.get("Fallback")
@@ -134,14 +132,13 @@ def get_operator_metadata(agency: str, route_color: str) -> dict:
     }
 
 def get_sound_path(destination) -> str | None:
-    voice_announcement_config = config["voice_announcements"][0]
-    voice_stations = voice_announcement_config["stations"]
+    voice_stations = config.announcements.voice[0].stations
 
     if destination in voice_stations:
         announcement_for = destination
     else:
-        general_config = voice_stations.get("general", "")
-        if not general_config:
+        general_sound_enabled = voice_stations.get("general", "")
+        if not general_sound_enabled:
             return None
         announcement_for = "general"