Traffic - Snow chaos: Rail traffic still disrupted
After the heavy snowfall at the weekend in southern Bavaria, the situation has returned to normal. Nevertheless, train services will continue to be disrupted on certain routes on Thursday. From 10 p.m., rail travelers will once again be threatened with chaos for a completely different reason: the train drivers' union GDL has called a warning strike for long-distance and regional transport workers.
According to Deutsche Bahn (DB), the Munich hub was accessible again on Wednesday for long-distance services from the vast majority of directions, although there were still some restrictions. Numerous regional routes south and southwest of Munich were still closed. According to DB, rail traffic was still not possible on Wednesday, particularly on the Werdenfels network.
The Bayerische Regiobahn, which serves large parts of southern Bavaria, experienced individual train cancellations on Wednesday. On most routes, however, trains were running according to schedule again, said a spokeswoman. "We always have to rely on DB Netz AG to decide when to open the lines." It is still taking time for trees to be removed from the tracks and overhead lines to be repaired.
On the Munich S-Bahn, several trains were back on the entire route. According to DB, the repairs on the S4, the only line that was initially still completely interrupted, are more complex. Trees had fallen onto the tracks in Grafrath, causing several overhead line masts to snap. DB announced that the line would be running on a single track again by Thursday.
Train traffic had come to a virtual standstill at the weekend, particularly in the south of Bavaria. Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU) accused Deutsche Bahn of poor planning. "Of course there was an extreme weather situation, but that was announced, you have to prepare for such things," the minister told the Bavarian radio station Bayern 2 of Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR). The Free State pays around 700 million euros a year for the use of the rail network. "I expect a functioning network."
The rail failures will also be discussed in the state parliament. Those responsible at Deutsche Bahn and Bayerische Eisenbahngesellschaft are to explain themselves to the transport committee on January 23.
On Wednesday, flights were once again canceled at Munich Airport. Around 60 of 560 planned flights were canceled, according to a spokesperson. No cancellations were initially announced for Thursday.
The weather could continue to affect everyday life in Bavaria over the next few days. After a slight improvement in the weather on Thursday, it will remain cold and the German Weather Service (DWD) is expecting rain or snow in places.
DWD Bavaria Munich Airport Info Ministry of Education on school closures - updated regularly Current traffic reports from Deutsche Bahn
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- Despite the improvement in weather conditions in southern Bavaria, the impact of the weekend's heavy snowfall continues to disrupt German rail traffic, especially on certain routes.
- The disruption in rail traffic is set to continue on Thursday due to a warning strike called by the German train drivers' union GDL affecting long-distance and regional transport workers.
- Over the weekend, rail traffic nearly came to a standstill in the southern part of Bavaria, causing accusations of poor planning against Deutsche Bahn (DB) by Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter.
- The Munich hub was partially accessible on Wednesday for long-distance services from various directions, but regional routes to the south and southwest of Munich remained closed.
- The Bavarian Regiobahn, which serves large parts of southern Bavaria, experienced some individual train cancellations on Wednesday, while the vast majority of the trains were running on schedule.
- Munich Airport experienced flight disruptions on Wednesday as around 60 out of 560 planned flights were cancelled, with no cancellations announced for Thursday yet.
- Railroad accidents can also occur during winter weather, making it essential to ensure safety, especially during the warning strike announced by the GDL.
- During winter weather, it's crucial to exercise caution while traveling and allow extra time for journeys, especially on routes that have been affected by the snowfall or the chance of further snowfall.
- Passengers traveling to Munich during the weekend weather chaos or the warning strike can consider alternative modes of transportation, such as using the city's tram or bus services offered by the Regiobahn or Deutsche Bahn's local network.
- During the winter months, Leisure time activities can still be enjoyed in Bavaria regardless of rail traffic difficulties, such as visiting museums, art galleries, or going for a scenic walk in one of Bavaria's picturesque towns, to ensure a memorable and enjoyable travel experience.
Source: www.stern.de
