Train services in Germany are set to face “massive” disruption this week as rail workers go on strike for three days.
The German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) is holding three days of industrial action from Wednesday to Friday (10-12 January) as part of a long-running dispute with Deutsche Bahn (DB) over pay, hours and working conditions.
Members of the union have already voted to stage “open-ended” strikes in 2024. It is expected to be the first of many walkouts affecting Germany’s rail services this year unless there is a quick resolution to the dispute with DB.
This week’s strike action by train drivers will start at 2am on Wednesday and continue until 5pm on Friday. DB warned its services will be “massively affected nationwide” from 10 January until the end of Friday with delays and cancellations.
Deutsche Bahn has created an emergency timetable over the three-day strike period but said this only includes “a very limited range of DB long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services”.
“We are therefore asking passengers to avoid non-essential journeys with DB during the strike or to postpone their journey,” said the train operator in an update to passengers.
Passengers who postpone their trips during the strike can use their tickets at a later date, even if they need to change their route to their original destination. Seat reservations can be cancelled free of charge.
DB has also allowed travellers to bring forward their journeys to Tuesday (9 January) before the strike starts on Wednesday.