Deutsche Bahn asks: Postpone your journey

The latest industrial action by the train drivers' union GDL is paralyzing traffic at Deutsche Bahn and other railroad companies. Thousands of train connections are canceled until late in the evening. Deutsche Bahn has drawn up an emergency timetable for long-distance services, while the impact on regional services varies greatly. In general, however, the Group's motto is: "Please refrain from unnecessary travel during the GDL strike and postpone your journey to another time." The most important information on the fourth warning strike at Deutsche Bahn this year at a glance.

Until when will the strike last?

The GDL warning strike runs until 10 pm, in short: the day on the rails is over. However, rail traffic is expected to resume in an orderly fashion on Saturday. For this reason, Deutsche Bahn has already removed some connections from the timetable on Thursday evening. This means that trains will be in the right place after the end of the strike and can resume their connections.

Which services are affected?

Employees of Deutsche Bahn, including the S-Bahn operations in Berlin and Hamburg, as well as the railroad companies Transdev, AKN and City-Bahn Chemnitz and other companies have been called to strike. Considerable disruption is therefore to be expected in long-distance, regional and freight transport throughout Germany. As with the first GDL warning strike of the current year, Deutsche Bahn intends to maintain around 20 percent of long-distance services. However, according to the company, this will not be possible in Bavaria because the consequences of the heavy snowfall are still causing problems there.

What effects are to be expected in other regions?

Experience has shown that many employees are organized with the GDL, particularly in the eastern German states and in the southwest. As a result, regional transport services are likely to be almost non-existent in many places. "In regional transport, the aim is to run a greatly reduced service. The extent to which this is possible varies greatly from region to region," said Deutsche Bahn.

Where can passengers find out about their train?

You can find out whether a long-distance or regional train is running or not via the Bahn app or the Bahn website. The emergency timetable was added to the systems on Thursday. The strike hotline 08000 99 66 33 has been set up for individual information.

What happens to my ticket?

All passengers who wish to postpone their journey planned for December 7 or 8 due to the strike can use their ticket at a later date. "The train binding is canceled. The ticket is valid for the journey to the original destination, even if the route is changed," it says. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge. Passengers also have the option to bring their journey forward and travel on the Thursday before the strike begins as part of a special goodwill gesture. If the booked train is canceled, a full ticket refund is also possible.

Are other rail companies affected by the warning strike?

Apart from the companies mentioned above, which are directly affected by the strike, all other rail companies can theoretically offer their services. The GDL mainly represents train drivers and train crews. Train dispatchers, who coordinate train services nationwide, have also been called out on warning strike, but are not strongly represented by the GDL. The rail network should therefore be able to operate in large parts of the country. Providers such as FlixTrain reported a higher demand for tickets on Thursday.

Why is the GDL on strike?

In the current collective bargaining round, the union primarily wants to fight for a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours. The railroad company is adamantly opposed to this. GDL boss Claus Weselsky therefore declared the negotiations a failure and criticized the fact that no compromises could be found with the federally owned company.

In addition to the reduction in working hours, the union is demanding an increase of 555 euros per month and an inflation compensation bonus. Deutsche Bahn had offered eleven percent higher wages for a term of 32 months as well as the inflation compensation bonus.

Is there a threat of warning strikes before and after Christmas?

No. The GDL has now made it clear that this week's industrial action will be thelast up to and including January 7, 2024. For the time after that, however, it is completely open as to how the wage dispute will continue. The union intends to announce the result of a ballot of its members on December 19. If more than 75 percent of those taking part in the ballot vote in favor of indefinite strikes, the union is likely to call for significantly longer industrial action. No progress is in sight at the negotiating table. The fronts between the GDL and Deutsche Bahn have hardened, with no way out yet in sight. January could therefore be a turbulent time on the railways.