As of: January 23, 2024, 4:28 p.m
By: Cefina Gomez, Romina Kunze
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The tariff dispute between Deutsche Bahn and GDL threatens to escalate.
A mega-strike is expected to paralyze rail traffic for six days.
Frankfurt – In recent times, those who couldn't stay in the home office often had to find something to do to get to work.
In the last two months of 2023 alone, a number of Deutsche Bahn trains stood still after a collective agreement between the train drivers' union GDL and the company failed several times.
And the new year is only three weeks old when the next train drivers' strike is already approaching.
The second since the turn of the year - and by far the longest so far.
What travelers need to know – an overview.
Huge strike at Deutsche Bahn: These trains are affected
Union leader Claus Weselsky recently issued an unequivocal warning and announced a “longer and harder strike” after the last round of talks.
It seems as if he is keeping his word: he is calling on Deutsche Bahn employees to stop working for a full six days.
Starting on Wednesday, January 24th, from 2 a.m.
It shouldn't end before Monday (January 29th) at 6 p.m.
A person waits at the train station while train drivers repeatedly strike Deutsche Bahn.
(Symbolic photo) © Kira Hofmann/Imago
The strike mainly affects Deutsche Bahn, but could also affect regional rail operators such as Agilis, Go-Ahead and Länderbahn.
In some cities, such as Munich, the strike also paralyzes S-Bahn traffic.
There are also special features in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main area: While subways and trams should run normally, this does not apply to regional and S-Bahn trains.
However, some regional train lines are planned to run in northern Hesse.
Some connections in northern Germany could also remain unaffected.
The mega-strike begins on Tuesday, January 23rd at 2 a.m. with a nationwide strike in freight transport.
The next day there will be a strike on passenger traffic.
Deutsche Bahn responds to the six-day strike with an emergency plan - but the offer is significantly reduced
Deutsche Bahn has responded to the announced mega-strike by train drivers with an emergency timetable, albeit with significantly reduced journeys.
However, the railway promises longer trains and therefore more seats.
In a statement, Deutsche Bahn recommends checking online timetables regularly and reserving a seat in good time when traveling long-distance.
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“In regional transport, the aim is to run a greatly reduced offer.
The extent to which this is possible varies greatly from region to region,” according to the railway’s official statement.
The current traffic reports are regularly updated on the homepage.
Almost a week-long rail strike: This is what those affected can do – understanding is dwindling
If a connection fails, is late or there is a strike, travelers enjoy certain ticket rights.
According to Deutsche Bahn, all passengers who have planned a trip between January 24th and 29th can also use the ticket at a later date.
“The ticket is valid for the journey to the original destination – even with a changed route.
Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge,” says Deutsche Bahn.
Meanwhile, understanding among those affected by the repeated strike is now very limited.
Not least because users of the Deutschlandticket usually take the risk in the event of a strike.
After all, it was recently announced that the traffic light's prestige project can continue to call itself the “49 euro ticket”;
the price remains.
Deutsche Bahn vs. GDL: Why there is currently a stalemate in the mega-strike
The collective bargaining negotiations between Deutsche Bahn and GDL are currently at an impasse.
The GDL is calling, among other things, for a reduction in weekly working hours from the current 38 to 35 hours with full wage compensation and 555 euros more per month, as well as an inflation compensation bonus for a period of twelve months.
Deutsche Bahn's counteroffer was firmly rejected by the union and described as a sham offer.
“With the third and supposedly improved offer, Deutsche Bahn AG has once again shown that it is undeterred in pursuing its previous course of refusal and confrontation - there is no trace of any desire to reach agreement,” said the GDL statement.
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