Will there be more train cancellations at Deutsche Bahn and regionally on New Year's Eve due to the corona pandemic?
The railway union EVG is making a demand.
Munich / Berlin - Areas of critical infrastructure should prepare emergency plans.
Because of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in Germany, there may again be high numbers of infections, sick leave and quarantines of employees.
The new Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) addressed this request shortly before Christmas to institutions such as the police, fire brigade and garbage disposal.
A look at France shows the seriousness of the situation.
Omikron variant: EVG requests an emergency timetable from Deutsche Bahn (DB)
With the German neighbor, every fifth bus driver is absent between Christmas and New Year's Eve due to the high number of infections.
According to
Süddeutscher Zeitung (SZ),
thousands of flights were canceled
worldwide
over Christmas because pilots and employees of the airlines were canceled due to corona infections * or quarantine.
And: In Great Britain, for example, rail traffic is now severely restricted because many employees have to stay at home without further ado.
The fire department is also running out of staff on the island, according to the report.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) needs an emergency schedule in view of the impending corona infections.
Railway and Transport Union (EVG)
The Railway and Transport Union (EVG) therefore called on Monday (December 27th) as a precautionary measure to restrict regional train traffic across Germany in order to protect employees and ensure rail traffic.
"The public transport, especially the Deutsche Bahn (DB), needs an emergency timetable in view of the impending corona infections," explained the deputy EVG chairman Martin Burkert.
Corona pandemic: can Deutsche Bahn (DB) maintain timetables despite Omikron?
The railway has to budget for its staff and save resources so that emergency plans are not necessarily later due to illness and quarantine.
The
editorial network Germany (RND)
had previously
reported on the EVG requirement.
As the
RND
continues to write, Deutsche Bahn * had to restrict its timetables on some routes.
The reason given is an increased sickness rate among train drivers.
Regional connections in Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are affected.
In the video: Omikron variant - sick pilots burden the flight plans of many airlines
According to DB, on the other hand, rail traffic was "overall quiet" at Christmas.
1.6 million travelers were on long-distance journeys.
The utilization of the trains between December 22nd and 26th was 40 percent.
Now Deutsche Bahn and train drivers are looking forward to the coming days around New Year's Eve.
(pm) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
