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The imminent actions taken by the train drivers' union, GDL, could nearly bring long-distance and regional services in the northern regions, along with S-Bahn services in Hamburg, to a grinding halt.
"Prepare for significant limitations in S-Bahn services," warns S-Bahn Hamburg on their website. Consequently, from approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday, there will be "partial cancellations" on all lines. By around 10 p.m., operations will cease altogether. On Friday, S-Bahn aims to operate on lines S1, S21, and S3 in accordance with an urgency schedule. However, timetables will only be accessible at the last minute due to the unclear situation. Disruptions will also persist following the conclusion of the strike on Friday.
The Hamburg Verkehrsverbund (HVV) anticipates substantial disruptions to regional services, as well. The AKN will be affected by this situation. "There won't be AKN trains during the strike. No rail replacement services will be arranged for the cancellations," asserts AKN. The HVV's advice to passengers: "If possible, use subway trains and buses." Metronom and Erixx trains are still operational, albeit with expected limitations.
Deutsche Bahn predicts considerable restrictions for Schleswig-Holstein, with an urgency schedule. Trains will be longer and grant more seats, but prompt travel cannot be guaranteed, the railway company writes on their website. Passengers who opt to postpone their journey due to the strike may utilize their ticket at a later time, and reservations are cancelled.
On bahn.de and in the DB Navigator app, all trains in the emergency schedule are now available in the information media. Additionally, Deutsche Bahn has reinstated a strike hotline for passengers affected by the disruptions. They can call 08000-996633 to get information on their connections. The emergency schedule ensures only a "very limited train service," according to bahn.de. "Please avoid unnecessary travel during the GDL strike and reschedule your journey to another time."
The GDL unexpectedly called for a 24-hour warning strike at Deutsche Bahn on Wednesday. The strike commences on Thursday evening at 10 p.m. and is scheduled to end on Friday evening at 10 p.m. Disruptions are expected well before the start of the official strike.
All long-distance and regional transport workers, as well as those on suburban trains in Berlin and Hamburg, have been summoned to participate in the strike, as stated in the announcement. The warning strike in freight transport is set to commence at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening. Among other things, the union is advocating for a reduction in working hours for shift workers.
The HVV on the GDL Strike, S-Bahn Hamburg, Start Unterelbe, and AKN are expected to experience consequences as a result of the strike.
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The GDL's warning strike has had a considerable impact on regional traffic in the northern regions, leading to increased cancellations in long-distance and regional services. The cancellation rate for long-distance trains climbed from 1% to 4% between 2019 and 2024, according to data from the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV)[2]. The cancellation rate for regional services reached 5% in the previous year [2]. Passengers were generally informed about service disruptions in advance, allowing them to make alternative travel arrangements [2]. Employees were expected to find alternative modes of transportation to reach work promptly, even if public transportation was disrupted [3]. Management and infrastructure challenges have contributed to a significant number of train cancellations [2]. Officials have emphasized the importance of sustained high-level investments in rail infrastructure to curtail cancellations and improve service quality [2]. The recent strike highlights ongoing labor disputes in Germany's railway sector, with a potential threat of more strikes if negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and the EVG union are not resolved by the end of March [1].
