Here’s how Germany’s upcoming rail strike will affect passengers.
German train drivers have announced a nearly week-long strike starting Wednesday.
This is the latest in a series of strikes over working hours, conditions and pay. The trade union GDL said it had rejected a salary offer made by Germany’s train operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) on Friday.
“With the third and supposedly improved proposal, Deutsche Bahn has once again shown that it is unflinchingly pursuing its previous policy of refusal and confrontation. There is no sign of any intention to reach an agreement,” the union said. said in a press release on the same day. Monday morning.
Earlier this month, GDL union members went on strike, bringing train travel to a “nearly standstill” in Germany.
The upcoming passenger train strike will begin at 2am on January 24th and continue until 6am on Monday, January 29th.
Why are German railway workers on strike?
The GDL union voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a “full-scale” strike at the state-run DB.
The group performed 24 hours a day. “Warning attack” This is a common tactic in German wage negotiations, but disagreements continue to escalate.
This strike is the longest ongoing strike, following a three-day strike earlier this month.
The central issue is the union’s demand that shift workers’ working hours be reduced from 38 to 35 hours per week without any reduction in wages, a demand that employers have so far failed to meet.
GDL is seeking a 555-euro monthly pay rise for its employees and a lump-sum payment of up to 3,000 euros to combat inflation. D.B. announced earlier this month that it had made an offer equivalent to an 11% price increase.
It also said shift workers could move from 38 to 37 hours a week from 2026, or receive additional pay if they wanted to stay on their current hours.
Will there be more train strikes in Germany in 2024?
Unfortunately for travelers, there will probably be more to come strike Negotiations will continue this year.
The GDL chairman said earlier this month that “what is about to happen will be stronger, longer and more difficult for our customers than any previous strike,” and that threat is now becoming reality.
How will the German rail strike affect passengers?
During the last strike in early January, Deutsche Bahn announced a reduction of only about 20% of train fares. long distance Trains were in service, including many regional and commuter trains in cities like Berlin.
DB said longer trains will be used for available journeys to accommodate as many people as possible. However, it said service was not guaranteed and asked passengers to avoid non-essential travel during the strike.
During a “warning strike” in early December, long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services were subject to delays and cancellations.other railway Companies such as Transdev Group (including Bavarian Oberlandbahn and Nordwestbahn) were also affected.
DB, Germany’s largest employer of train drivers, manages long-distance passenger trains such as ICE, IC, EC and NightJet, as well as regional trains and S-Bahn routes.
The strike is nationwide, and the impact is expected to be felt throughout the country.
DB said in a statement about the upcoming strike: “A new strike will once again have a major impact on the entire German railway operation.”
The railway operator has announced that it will operate an emergency timetable with a “significantly reduced” range of services on long-distance, regional and S-Bahn trains. Passengers are encouraged to check their itinerary 24 hours in advance and reserve seats on long-haul services.
If you have train Tickets booked during this period can be used for travel on January 23, before the strike, or at a later date. If your train is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund. Read about your rights as a passenger.
Where to find train timetables
Customers can find up-to-date information about their rail routes through the DB Navigator app or Deutsche Bahn. Website. Additional trains may be canceled at the last minute during a strike, so it’s worth double-checking these before leaving home.
You can call DB’s special travel information hotline at +49 (0)8000-996-633.
Refunds: What are the rights of rail passengers in Germany?
If your trip is affected, you have a range of options available to you, subject to regulations. Deutsche Bahn website:
- You can postpone your trip and use your ticket at a later date of your choice. If the route changes, the ticket is still valid for travel to the original destination.
- Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge.
- your train cancelyou can get a full refund without any deductions.