After the strike: the regular train timetable is back on track
Following the warning strike by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL), Deutsche Bahn intends to operate according to the regular timetable again from this Friday. This will apply to long-distance and regional services from Friday morning, according to a spokeswoman. "As more travelers than usual are to be expected even after the end of the GDL strike, we recommend reserving a seat on long-distance services," the spokesperson explained.
In order to be able to fulfill the regular offer on Friday, the emergency timetable had to remain in force for the time being in all long-distance and parts of regional traffic even after the end of the warning strike on Thursday at 6 pm. This will enable a smooth start to operations on Friday morning.
Train drivers, train attendants, workshop employees and dispatchers were called to take part in the warning strike from Wednesday evening, 10.00 pm, until Thursday, 6.00 pm. The timetable was severely thinned out.
There were cancellations on many S-Bahn and regional services in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, while other lines ran every two hours. Trains of other railroad companies were also affected, such as the Mittelrheinbahn, which operates the regional line RB 26 between Mainz and Cologne.
Among other things, the GDL is demanding 555 euros more per month for a twelve-month contract term as well as an inflation compensation bonus. One sticking point is the demand for a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week for shift workers with full pay. Deutsche Bahn had presented its own offer in the first round of negotiations, which included a pay increase of eleven percent for a term of 32 months. There is nothing in the offer regarding working hours.
Despite the resumption of normal train services, consumers may still face traffic disruptions due to the high number of travelers following the strike. Additionally, railroad companies like Mittelrheinbahn were also impacted by these strikes, potentially leading to tariff adjustments for certain routes to accommodate any delays or increased demand.
Source: www.dpa.com
