As of: January 23, 2024, 4:37 a.m
Comments
Press
Split
According to DB Carcgo, the strike is permanently disrupting industrial supply chains.
The railway still has a market share of around 40 percent in rail freight transport.
© Peter Kneffel/dpa
The GDL train drivers' strike also affects rail freight transport.
This poses major logistics problems for some industries.
Whether consumers will notice anything remains to be seen.
Berlin - Not only passengers, but also German industry will have to prepare for significant restrictions starting this evening due to the train drivers' strike by the GDL union.
In particular, industries with a high proportion of rail freight have to reschedule.
“The announced six-day rail strike is putting a strain on transport logistics in Germany and Europe and thus also on companies in the German automotive industry,” said the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) when asked.
Companies did react and, where possible, converted supply and logistics chains.
“However, a short-term shift from rail to road is extremely difficult,” it said.
In recent years, many companies in the industry have shifted their transport to the road.
“As a result, this potential has been largely exhausted.” The VDA also said that finished vehicles are primarily transported by rail.
Whether some buyers will have to wait longer for their new vehicle remains to be seen.
It is questionable whether a six-day strike will last long enough for this.
Challenge for the chemical industry
The strike also represents a major challenge for the chemical industry, as the Association of the Chemical Industry (VCI) announced upon request.
“The companies immediately developed flexible solutions with their customers and logistics service providers,” it said.
“But these can only partially compensate for the restrictions and delays in rail logistics.”
On Monday night, the GDL announced a multi-day strike in the collective bargaining dispute with Deutsche Bahn.
Passenger traffic will be on strike from 2 a.m. on Wednesday, and freight traffic will be on strike today from 6 p.m.
The industrial action is not expected to end until Monday evening.
“144 hours of strike have a direct impact on industrial supply chains and disrupt them sustainably,” said the railway’s freight transport subsidiary, DB Cargo.
The Freight Railways Association, which primarily organizes cargo competitors, pointed out that the railways only have a market share of around 40 percent in rail freight transport.
“60 percent of rail freight transport runs as usual and often even reaches its destination better because of an empty network,” said association managing director Peter Westenberger.
The private companies also occasionally pick up goods that DB Cargo cannot transport due to the strike.
My news
Heil announces a pension package and defends himself against criticism: “There is no pension at 63 anymore” read
New plan for the pension: Habeck wants to pay pensioners more money
GDL rail strike: “Mr. Weselsky likes to keep this quiet” read
Conditions like before Corona: ZDK expects a big discount battle among car manufacturers
Pension increase in 2024: This is what the pension will look like after reading out 3.5 percent
Traffic light waters down the citizen's money sanctions for those who refuse to work: Greens cheer read
Railway: GDL strike, especially strike against German economy
The railway itself, however, pointed out its own importance for European freight transport.
“DB Cargo is a European network railway, unlike many competitors who primarily offer simple shuttle services,” the company said.
The GDL strike is therefore primarily a strike against the German economy.
Single-wagon transport, in which goods are picked up directly from the customer by train, is particularly affected.
The wagons are then assembled into long freight trains in marshalling yards and taken apart again at the other end of the route.
dpa