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Metronom: Still fewer train journeys due to staff shortages

Metronom: Still fewer train journeys due to staff shortages

,   and  ASMedia
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Metronom: Still fewer train journeys due to staff shortages
Metronom: Still fewer train journeys due to staff shortages

Starting off 2023, Metronom Railways is grappling with a tough predicament, offering fewer train trips due to a personnel predicament, colloquially known as a staffing crunch. As announced on January 3rd, this adjustment in schedule will persist until February 3rd. Regrettably, this means no more 'booster trains' during busy hours and a fewer number of weekend night services.

"The persistence of the revised timetable is a direct result of an ongoing scarcity of train drivers within our company, despite our relentless pursuit of new hires," acknowledged a corporate statement. This tightened Metronom schedule has already been in effect for a few months, affecting regional routes connecting major cities like Hamburg and Hanover, as well as Hanover and Göttingen, and Hamburg and Bremen.

Stay in the loop for the latest developments by visiting Metronom's official homepage for timely information on the alternative schedule.

Additional Information:

Similar staffing challenges are being faced by other regional rail companies in Germany, such as Regionalverkehre Start Deutschland GmbH in Bremen and Hamburg, Hesse, and Lower Saxony[2][5]. It's recommended to consult Metronom's official announcements or contact them directly for the most detailed and up-to-date information on their operational changes due to the staff shortage.

Connected Articles:

  • Amidst a persistent personnel shortage, Metronom Railways, a significant player connecting major cities like Hamburg and Hanover, will be operating fewer trains during peak hours and reduced weekend night services.
  • As disclosed by Metronom on January 3rd, the revised schedule will remain in effect until February 3rd, an extension of the temporary timetable previously implemented.
  • The staffing deficit within Metronom, despite their aggressive recruitment efforts, is the driving force behind the continuation of the replacement timetable, according to the rail company.
  • Since several months, Metronom, renowned for its popular regional routes, finds itself in a situation where it can only offer a limited number of train journeys due to the staff shortage-induced turbulence.
  • To keep abreast of the most current route changes and availability, it's wise to visit the Metronom website's informational page on the alternative schedule.

German regional rail companies, including those in the Rhine-Ruhr region, are handling staff shortages by implementing a variety of strategies and adjustments to their timetables. Among these solutions are:

  1. Timetable Modifications:
  2. Line S 2: Frequency reduced from 15-minute intervals to 30-minute intervals between Dortmund main station and Dortmund-Mengede, even after construction work completion[1].
  3. Line S 28: Bus substitution for the Mettmann Stadtwald - Wuppertal Hbf section during the day until 8:30 PM, as well as no services on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays for the Wuppertal-Vohwinkel - Wuppertal Hbf section[1].
  4. Line S 68: Temporarily suspended until further notice; passengers are advised to use lines S 6 and S 8[1].
  5. RE 3 line: Reduced frequency to every 2 hours, with supplementary buses on the Mönchengladbach - Venlo section[1].
  6. RE 19 line: No morning service from Emmerich to Düsseldorf on Mondays to Fridays until further notice[1].
  7. RE 44 line: Temporarily suspended until further notice; buses will run on the Bottrop - Oberhausen section, with continuous service between Bottrop and Duisburg-Ruhrort[1].
  8. RE 47 line: Bus substitution until further notice[1].
  9. Line RB 34: One journey in each direction replaced by buses on Mondays to Fridays until further notice[1].
  10. Line RB 35: No specific adjustments mentioned, although likely impacted by similar constraints[1].
  11. Operational Changes:
  12. Supplementary Services: Buses will be used to augment train services where possible, such as on the Mönchengladbach - Venlo section for the RE 3 line[1].
  13. Communication and Passenger Assistance:
  14. Passenger Information: Passengers are advised to switch to alternative lines or use buses where train services are suspended or reduced[1].

These modifications aim to manage the impact of staff shortages on regional rail services, ensuring that essential routes remain operational while minimizing disruptions to passengers.

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