Status: 02.12.2023, 11:29 a.m.
By: Marcus Giebel
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Snow, snow and much more snow. Due to the severe winter weather, life in Munich and the surrounding area is largely at a standstill.
Update from 2 December, 11.15 a.m.: The chaos at the railway will continue into the new week. As a spokeswoman for the company told the German Press Agency (dpa), severe disruptions to rail traffic in southern Germany are to be expected until Monday. Munich's main train station will not be accessible all Saturday long. In addition, overhead lines are iced over.
Meanwhile, Munich Airport will remain closed until at least 6 a.m. on Sunday. Passengers who plan to fly on Sunday should check the status of their flight. According to a spokesman for Lufthansa, the closure also affects other airports, where there are also significant restrictions in Frankfurt.
Winter in autumn: Munich's main train station is cut off - public transport is paralyzed
First reported on 2 December: Munich – Winter is here. Enormously early. And on top of that, with snowfalls that haven't been seen for many years. The consequences for many people are devastating. Also in Munich. The main train station in the Bavarian capital cannot be approached for the time being. Public transport is also paralyzed, and after buses and trams, the S-Bahn trains are also getting an unexpected breather.
The onset of winter in Munich: Rail passengers spend the night on the train
Deutsche Bahn does not expect a quick improvement. On the contrary, the restrictions are expected to last the whole of Saturday – at least. Since it has been snowing continuously since Thursday morning, the company recommends "postponing travel to and from Munich".
According to a reporter from the German Press Agency (dpa), a train coming from Stuttgart had to be converted into overnight accommodation at Ulm station in the early hours of the morning. A train was also provided at Munich Central Station for this purpose.
According to a spokeswoman for the company, it is not possible to keep track of how many trains had to abandon their journeys due to the extremely adverse weather conditions. Between Munich-Pasing and Fürstenfeldbruck, between Tutzing in the district of Starnberg and Weilheim in Upper Bavaria as well as between Neukirchen and Vilseck (both in the district of Amberg-Sulzbach), trains had to stop in the station due to fallen trees. Rail replacement services were not offered due to road conditions.
Operation in the snow: The emergency services are currently in high demand in and around Munich. © IMAGO / Thomas Vonier
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Snowfall in Munich: Airport suspends operations – hundreds of flights cancelled
At Munich Airport, too, nothing works for the time being. However, it was initially hoped that operations could be resumed from 12 noon. By morning, 320 of the 760 flights scheduled for the day had already been canceled. Passengers should check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.
The German Weather Service issues a level 3 severe weather warning for the south and southeast of Bavaria. For the region "south of a line from the Upper Palatinate to Lake Constance", "significant snowfall in some areas" is to be expected. The intensity is expected to subside by the evening, but another one to five centimeters of fresh snow is to be expected, "south of Munich extending to the Allgäu and Berchtesgadener Land" even five to ten centimeters, "locally in traffic jams" up to 15 centimeters.
Scenes from the main train station: The train breaks down and the passengers are stranded in Munich. © fkn
Heavy snowfall in Munich: Police warn motorists – trees block roads
It also warns that roads may be "impassable in places". In addition, there is a risk that "trees will collapse under the weight of the snow". Car journeys should be avoided. There were numerous accidents in southern Bavaria, but in most cases there was no damage to property.
The police of Upper Bavaria South asked citizens to stay at home, rescue and clearance services were in continuous operation. Many smaller roads outside of built-up areas are heavily snowed or blocked by fallen trees.
The Munich police ask you to refrain from "unnecessary trips" until the streets are cleared by the clearing services. Before starting the journey, the car should be completely cleared of snow, including the roof. (mg, with dpa)