Full trains and few traffic jams on the freeways

Created: 06/04/2022Updated: 06/04/2022, 16:43

A regional train is in the main train station in Essen.

© Federico Gambarini/dpa

The Pentecost weekend will be the first major endurance test for Deutsche Bahn since the launch of the 9-euro ticket.

The railway companies in NRW had assumed this.

This picture seems to be confirmed.

There was also a great rush at major airports.

Cologne/Berlin - Full platforms on regional trains and few traffic jams on the motorways: After the start of the 9-euro monthly ticket for nationwide journeys in local and regional transport, as expected, an exceptionally large number of people used the train for a day trip or a short holiday at Pentecost.

A large number of travelers boarded trains early on Saturday morning at Cologne Central Station.

Among them were a number of train passengers who had their bicycles with them.

Because of train delays or platform changes, travelers also rushed to trains, according to a dpa photographer.

"As expected, regional trains, especially to tourist destinations, are in very high demand today," said a spokesman for Deutsche Bahn at the Berlin headquarters on Saturday afternoon.

The regional trains were also very well used in North Rhine-Westphalia, he explained.

However, he did not give details such as the extent of delays.

"We recommend our passengers to get information from the information media of the local transport associations or via the DB Navigator shortly before starting their journey," he explained.

In view of the inexpensive 9-euro tickets, which can be used for one month in June, July and August, with which local and regional transport can be used nationwide, many additional travelers were expected.

Pentecost is generally a busy weekend for travel.

Deutsche Bahn has repeatedly asked people not to take bicycles on trains if they are not absolutely necessary.

The transport of bicycles cannot be guaranteed in some cases, Deutsche Bahn NRW also tweeted and at the same time pointed out that long delays are possible.

According to its own statements, the railway industry has armed itself with more wagons and staff for travel on the long Pentecost weekend.

It is to be expected that many day-trippers will use the new 9-euro ticket to make their way to tourist destinations, according to the Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe (NVR and NWL) local transport services and the Rhine-Ruhr transport association (VRR).

On central routes, the trains are “en route with the maximum possible number of seats”.

On the motorways in North Rhine-Westphalia, the traffic situation on Saturday was much more relaxed after a large Pentecost wave of travel on Friday afternoon.

The Department of Transport's online map showed significantly fewer congestion areas on Saturday than on Friday.

According to an overview of the WDR traffic situation, the traffic jams at different times of the day on Saturday mostly totaled between 30 and 40 kilometers.

Around 4:00 p.m. it was only nine kilometers - and that with an A40 near Duisburg that was completely closed due to construction work.

On Friday afternoon it was several hundred kilometers in total.

The ADAC North Rhine is expecting a wave of return trips for Monday.

At the two largest North Rhine-Westphalia airports, Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn airports, there were again longer waiting times for air travelers at the security check, as airport spokesmen explained.

Passengers in Düsseldorf had to wait up to 50 minutes, especially on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

The press spokesman also considered longer waiting times possible for Saturday evening.

On their websites, the airports warn passengers of increased waiting times and ask them to show up earlier than normal.

Cologne/Bonn Airport recommends being there at least two and a half hours before departure.

Among other things, Düsseldorf Airport also points out that some airlines open check-in for early flights at 3.00 a.m. or 3.30 a.m. during the summer season.

dpa