As of: January 10, 2024 7:04 a.m
Since 2 a.m. this morning, another strike by the train drivers’ union GDL has largely paralyzed train traffic in Hamburg. For three days, until Friday evening, passengers have to look for alternatives. Freight traffic has been on strike since Tuesday evening.
The strike by the train drivers’ union GDL can take place as planned. On Tuesday evening in Frankfurt, the Hessian State Labor Court rejected an application from Deutsche Bahn (DB) for an interim injunction against the strike. DB passengers have to prepare for numerous train cancellations and delays up to and including Friday.
Emergency operation on Hamburg S-Bahn
There are also massive impacts on the Hamburg S-Bahn. S-Bahn journeys are currently not possible on the S1 Ohlsdorf route towards Poppenbüttel, as the S-Bahn announced this morning. Passengers are asked to use buses 174 and 179. The S-Bahn Hamburg runs according to an emergency timetable on the following routes:
- S1: Wedel <> Blankenese / Blankenese <> Airport (20-minute intervals)
- S2: Altona <> Aumühle (20-minute intervals)
- S3: Pinneberg <> Neugraben (20-minute intervals)
- S5: Neugraben <> Stade (60-minute intervals)
Subways and buses run
Passengers should use subways and buses if possible – the elevated railway is not affected by the strike. Further information has been available since morning on the S-Bahn website. During past strikes, the S-Bahn ran in emergency mode about every 20 to 30 minutes.
“Very limited train offerings” in long-distance and regional transport
Deutsche Bahn has also set up an emergency timetable for long-distance and regional transport on the days of the strike. However, this only contains a “very limited train offer”. “Please refrain from unnecessary travel during the GDL strike and postpone your trip to another time,” it said. All passengers who want to postpone their trip planned between Wednesday and Friday because of the strike can use their ticket later, the railway said. The train connection has therefore been lifted. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge. Long-distance passengers also have the option of bringing their journey forward.
Other train companies want to run
The Train company metronome According to its own information, it is not directly affected by the rail strike and wants to offer connections during the strike. However, restrictions are to be expected because the strike could lead to failures in signal boxes and operations centers. The AKN trains are scheduled to run between Wednesday and Friday, according to the company’s own information Flixbuses and Flixtrains.
What the GDL demands
A strike became possible after 97 percent of the participating GDL members voted in favor of work stoppages at Deutsche Bahn and the railway company Transdev. In addition to reducing working hours, the union is demanding, among other things, 555 euros more per month and a tax- and duty-free inflation compensation bonus. The railway has already promised, among other things, an eleven percent increase in wages – with a term of 32 months.
Strikes last November and December
There was already a 24-hour warning strike at the beginning of December 2023. Passenger and freight traffic was largely paralyzed. In long-distance traffic, the railway put around 20 percent of the connections on the rails in accordance with an emergency timetable. The GDL had its first warning strike in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute given last November.
Further information
