The expected extreme weather conditions in large parts of Germany are causing the first restrictions in passenger traffic.
Deutsche Bahn is partially discontinuing long-distance traffic.
Update from February 7th, 8:58 a.m.:
The forecasts had been alarming for days.
The first effects of the heavy weather are now showing on the rails and roads.
And the frosty temperatures are far from over.
On the contrary: for an area that stretches across Germany, the highest possible severe weather warning level five (purple) of the German Weather Service applies.
The area stretches from Münster in the west to Hanover in the north and Kassel in the south to Halle in the east and thus includes the several federal states: North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Hesse, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt.
According to the current status, the warning period begins at night on Sunday (February 7th) and continues until late Sunday evening.
Since Saturday afternoon, there have been 222 accidents due to the weather, said a spokesman for the state control center for the police on Sunday morning.
Two people were seriously injured and 26 were slightly injured.
The property damage amounts to around one million euros.
The "WDR" had previously reported in Münster because of the heavy snowfall, a driving ban for trucks was issued.
A police spokeswoman confirmed this on Sunday morning.
In addition, all bus traffic has been suspended for the time being.
Due to heavy snowfall, there are major restrictions on long-distance rail traffic on Sunday.
Trains are currently not running between Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg and Hanover and Hamburg and Berlin, Deutsche Bahn announced on its website in the morning.
The Leipzig / Halle region is also not served by long-distance traffic.
“Particularly strong winds and snow drifts make the emergency services difficult.” Problems in regional traffic had already been reported in NRW and Lower Saxony.
"In Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, the train traffic is impaired by heavy snowfall," it said.
The basic prediction remains that up to 50 centimeters of fresh snow will fall and snow drifts can pile up the snow further.
But Hamburg, Bremen and Berlin were apparently spared.
There is also a little less snow in Hanover and Magdeburg than expected.
But the winter in the Ruhr area has hit hard.
And there is also a lot of snow on the Lower Rhine.
As
The Weather Channel
reports, the most populous state was hit hardest.
In addition, a lot of snow had fallen in Thuringia and Northern Hesse.
Overall, the snowfall started a little further south than the forecasts from Friday and Saturday calculated.
This also shows the uncertainty caused by the Sahara dust.
Once the snowy Sunday is over, a winter landscape reveals itself that the north has not been able to marvel at in such splendor for a very long time.
And the snow will probably stay there for a long time.
The coming days will be very cold.
Update from February 6th, 9:15 p.m.:
Due to the announced extreme weather situation in parts of northern Germany, effects on rail traffic in Lower Saxony and Bremen are possible, according to Deutsche Bahn.
In the period between 11:13 p.m. today and 4:17 a.m. tomorrow, regional trains from Hanover and Bremen main station will be canceled several times.
"Unfortunately, we cannot offer any replacement services," says the Deutsche Bahn website.
There are currently no restrictions on the lines of the DB Regio Nordost due to the weather in Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Weather in Germany: Weather forecasts lead to train cancellations - these routes are affected
First report from February 6th:
Hamburg - The
meteorologists of
the
German Meteorological Service are
expecting on Saturday and Sunday
(DWD) an
extreme weather
situation for large parts of northern Germany
with up to 40 centimeters of
fresh snow
.
The Ministry of the Interior of Brandenburg has already advised its citizens not to leave their homes.
Experts fear short-term
restrictions
in the energy supply, as well as far-reaching effects on car and
train traffic
.
The latter fear has now already arisen.
Although the amount of
snow
that has fallen so far is
still within limits,
Deutsche Bahn
drew
conclusions from the
forecasts
on Saturday lunchtime
and
partially stopped
long-distance
traffic.
As the company announces on its official website, the announced
storm will
cause
delays and
train cancellations over
the weekend
.
Based on the
DWD's
forecast,
there will be no
long-distance trains
between
Hamburg
and
Kiel
, Hamburg and
Lübeck
, and between Hamburg and
Westerland
on Saturday and Sunday
.
Intercity trains between
Bremen
and
Norddeich Mole
, as well as
Münster
(Westphalia) and Norddeich Mole.
On the route between Hamburg and
Rostock
/
Stralsund
/
Binz
,
Deutsche Bahn
only uses individual intercity trains due to the weather forecasts.
Extreme weather conditions in northern Germany: passengers have to pay attention to this
The company advises staying home on weekends if possible.
That is why
train tickets
that have already been purchased
can either be used flexibly from February 5th up to and including seven days after the end of the disruption or canceled free of charge.
The
DWD
expects extremely heavy
snowfall
or
freezing rain
, especially in the second half of the day on Saturday and all of Sunday
.
Weather in Germany: Severe weather conditions also limit ferry traffic on the North Sea
Due to strong
winds
from the east, many
ferries
to the East Frisian Islands are also canceled.
Juist, Langeoog and Wangerooge, among others, are affected.
Travelers should generally find out
about their intended connections
before
starting
their journey.
(fd)
List of rubric lists: © Daniel Bockwoldt / dpa