The 24-hour work stoppage declared by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) could bring a wave of restrictions to long-distance and regional train services in Lower Saxony and Bremen. The precise impact remains unclear, but Deutsche Bahn expects to preserve around a fifth of their long-distance operations. Regions will see varying degrees of disruption in regional services. Deutsche Bahn advises passengers to delay their journey, anticipating numerous train cancellations nationwide.
The strike aims to underscore the GDL's demand for reduced working hours for shift workers. Union members are encouraged to cease work until 10 p.m. on Friday evening, potentially causing thousands of train cancellations throughout Germany. The warning strike has already begun in freight transport since 6 p.m. on Thursday evening.
Unfortunately, information about the effects on the Westfalenbahn, which runs from Braunschweig to various cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, including Hanover and Osnabrück, is limited. The company lacks accurate details on which routes can function during the strike, making it impossible to predict rail connections.
Passengers also face cancellations at regional railways controlled by the Transdev Group, which includes the Nordwestbahn and Regio-S-Bahn in Hanover. Despite ongoing wage negotiations, the GDL considers the negotiations with Transdev to have faltered.
Transdev, in response, has launched an emergency bus service for affected routes, urging passengers to prepare for extended journey times and substantial capacity limitations on buses. Passengers should only resort to the bus service during emergencies.
Trains operated by the Erixx, Enno, and Metronom remain partially unaffected by the work stoppages. Netinera Group companies, however, may still face potential cancellations or delays due to possible warning strikes at Deutsche Bahn signal boxes.
In summary, the GDL's strike in Germany could result in widespread train cancellations, particularly affecting long-distance and regional services in Lower Saxony and Bremen. Commuters are advised to stay informed, check schedules, and, if possible, reschedule their journeys to avoid inconvenience.
