Between winter wonderland and traffic chaos: how the first snow weekend went in Germany

Icy temperatures - Between winter wonderland and traffic chaos: how the first snow weekend went in Germany

The heavy snowfall on the first weekend of Advent is leaving its mark - and not just on the idyllic winter wonderland. Train travelers in Bavaria in particular are still facing considerable restrictions. Although two long-distance routes at Munich Central Station were operated again on Sunday, there were fewer trains, according to a DB spokeswoman.

Passengers are asked to check the status of their connection before traveling and to postpone non-essential journeys until Tuesday or later.

In the districts of Starnberg and Mühldorf am Inn as well as in the city of Augsburg, many schools will remain closed on Monday. Distance learning will be offered in some cases. In Augsburg, 20 schools were to be closed in whole or in part for the time being, according to the city administration. The reason for this was the masses of snow on the roofs of the buildings. Once the snow has melted, the buildings will have to be checked for structural stability.

Winter in southern Germany: rail chaos and power cuts

At Munich Airport, flight operations had partially resumed on Sunday morning following a closure on Saturday. However, hundreds of flights were still canceled. In addition, several thousand households were still without power on Sunday, particularly in Upper and Lower Bavaria, after trees fell on power lines on Saturday.

Following the train cancellations due to the snow chaos in Bavaria, the railroad workers' union EVG and the passenger association Pro Bahn are calling for consequences for the railroads' suitability for winter. EVG Chairman Martin Burkert told the Augsburger Allgemeine that the German rail infrastructure was "largely dilapidated". There must be major investments along the lines of countries such as Austria.

The national chairman of the passenger association Pro Bahn, Detlev Neuß, told the newspaper that rail transport was "only sewn on edge after decades of austerity policies". One of the many problems is that, for cost reasons, the railroads have been dismantling more and more tracks as stabling facilities until recently and entire trains now have to be parked directly in the stations if they can no longer reach their destination. "The congested stations mean that rail traffic is blocked even faster and comes to a standstill on a large scale."

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1. Despite the traffic chaos caused by the heavy snowfall, many people in Germany were still able to enjoy the scenic beauty of the winter wonderland, particularly in Southern Germany.
2. On Saturday, flight operations at Starnberg Airport, located in Bavaria, were completely halted due to the snow, adding to the traffic chaos.
3. The traffic chaos in Munich, a major city in Bavaria, also affected its nearby district of Starnberg, making weekend travel difficult.
4. The police in Germany are advising residents in parts of Bavaria, including the city of Augsburg, to avoid unnecessary travel due to the severe snow conditions, which have resulted in a 'winter wonderland' scenario.
5. The cancellation of flights at Munich Airport triggered calls from the railroad worker's union EVG and passenger association Pro Bahn for improvements in the rail infrastructure in Germany, particularly in Bavaria, to ensure better winter resilience.
6. On Sunday, several parts of Southern Germany, including Munich and Augsburg, experienced power cuts, forcing thousands of households to rely on alternative energy sources.
7. The city of Augsburg in Bavaria, which is located in southern Germany, has closed more than 20 schools as a precautionary measure due to the heavy snow accumulation on the school buildings, creating a picturesque scene of a 'winter wonderland'.

Source: www.stern.de