Deutsche Bahn Drivers Embarked on the Longest Strike in History From 24 to 29 January In Germany
The fourth mass protest by the German Association of Locomotive Drivers (GDL) over rail tariffs has begun in Germany, paralysing a large part of the country's railway traffic.
Due to the strike, Deutsche Bahn (DB) is warning of massive nationwide restrictions on intercity, regional and S-Bahn services. The emergency timetable provides a very limited number of trains, according to the company's website. Passengers should check their travel plans on bahn.de or the DB Navigator app 24 hours before their journey. Passengers can get information about the effects of the strike by calling, 08000-996633.
According to the railways, European freight traffic across the Alps to Poland and Scandinavia, as well as to the seaports of the Netherlands and Belgium, has also been affected.
The suspension of freight transport began on Tuesday evening at 18:00, and the strike in passenger transport began at 2:00 am on Wednesday. The industrial action is expected to last until Monday evening in both divisions.
This is the longest strike by the union to date. It is the first time in the ongoing collective bargaining agreement that the strike will last through the weekend. The situation at the railway is expected to return to normal no earlier than Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn called the ongoing industrial dispute "a blow to the German economy". As for freight transport, "we are talking about supplying power plants and oil refineries. DB Cargo will make every effort to secure this supply, but it will clearly have an impact on the supply chain."
Suppliers offering alternatives to the train are reporting an increase in customers.
"We have experience that shows an increase in demand due to the rail strikes," said a spokeswoman for ride-sharing provider Teilauto. According to a company spokesperson, demand for Flixbus is now about twice as high as on similar days without a strike.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the drivers to exercise their right to strike in moderation. Participation in protests is one of the freedoms "that are so firmly enshrined in our Basic Law that they cannot simply be abolished - even through laws," he said.