Railways Grind to a Halt due to Strikes and Construction Sites

The GDL union, led by Claus Weselsky, has launched its fifth strike in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn. The strike, which began on Wednesday evening, will halt German rail freight traffic and passenger traffic for 35 hours, ending on Friday afternoon. The union holds Deutsche Bahn responsible for the unsuccessful negotiations. The strikes are aimed at achieving a reduction in weekly working hours from 38 to 35, without financial losses for shift workers.

Strike Impact

The strike impacts not only Germany but also affects connections to and from Austria. The number of trains affected by the strike will be known on Tuesday when Deutsche Bahn provides the information. Meanwhile, Westbahn operations remain unaffected by the strike and will continue to transport passengers with ÖBB or DB tickets free of charge between Munich and Salzburg.

Construction Work

From March 9th to 19th, Deutsche Bahn’s construction work at Deutsches Eck will lead to extensive timetable changes. Trains from various cities will be affected during this period. The rerouted trains will not stop at certain stations, but a rail replacement service with buses will be set up between Salzburg and Kufstein.

Striking Lufthansa Ground Staff

In addition to the rail strike, Lufthansa’s ground staff are also on strike, leading to extensive disruptions and flight cancellations on Thursday and Friday. This will affect around 200,000 passengers, with around 1,000 flights per day being cancelled.

Information and Reimbursement

Travelers are advised to check their connections before travelling. Tickets can be cancelled and refunded if the trip does not start, or used for travel at an earlier or later date until March 15, 2024.