After the train drivers’ 20-hour warning strike, the railway is gradually returning to normality. However, repercussions are still to be expected, the company said and made a recommendation for travelers.
Video
04:47 mins
Rail strike ended – emergency timetable applies until Friday
End of the video post
After the warning strike by the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL), Deutsche Bahn wants to run according to the regular timetable again on Friday. This has been in effect for long-distance and regional traffic since early morning, the railway said.
A railway spokesman said there could be teething problems in long-distance transport on Friday. He recommended that travelers find out whether their train is actually running before they start their journey. The company also recommended seat reservations, as more travelers can be expected after the warning strike ends.
In order to be able to fulfill the regular offer on Friday, the emergency timetable still had to apply to all long-distance and parts of regional transport even after the warning strike ended on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Rework is being carried out in freight transport
Since Wednesday evening there has been a nationwide shutdown in local and long-distance traffic recusal massive restrictions on train drivers, train attendants, workshop employees and dispatchers. According to the information, around one in five trains ran on long-distance transport.
There were failures on many routes in S-Bahn and regional transport in Hesse, while other lines ran every two hours. Many travelers had either brought forward their trip or rescheduled it, the railway reported.
Buses, trams and subways in local public transport were not affected by the warning strike. The Frankfurt transport company (VGF) sometimes ran longer subways than usual.
Freight traffic was also hit hard, as the railway announced. The consequences of the warning strike will continue to be felt here. Hundreds of trains, some with time-critical goods, are backlogged. They want to resolve this quickly with special shifts.
Passenger rights
According to the railway, passengers who had to postpone their planned trip due to the GDL strike can use their ticket at a later date. The train connection has been lifted. The ticket is valid for the journey to the original destination, even with a changed route. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge.
In addition, the other tariff or statutory provisions apply Passenger rightsso that, for example, a ticket refund is possible under the appropriate conditions.
End of further information
Other railway companies such as the Hessische Landesbahn (HLB), Vlexx and Vias were not on strike. “Thank God the strike did not affect us,” said an HLB spokeswoman on Thursday afternoon. According to a spokeswoman, the rail company Vlexx also ran according to the regular timetable with “few restrictions” on Thursday.
Union wants working hours reduced
With the warning strike, union boss Claus Weselsky tightened the pace of the collective bargaining dispute after the first round of negotiations. The GDL and Deutsche Bahn have only been negotiating a new collective agreement since last Thursday.
The union is demanding, among other things, 555 euros more in collective bargaining Month for employees as well as an inflation compensation bonus of up to 3,000 euros. “We have come a lot closer to our goal. But our demand is also that our employees are generally relieved. This also refers to a 35-hour week,” said the district chairman of the GDL Hessen-Thüringen-Mittelrein, Rudolf Schultheis, Mr.
“We have been doing extra work for many years. The shifts are getting longer and harder at the same time. The sickness rate is not only so high because we have the flu or bad weather right now. The employees are simply overworked everywhere,” complained Schultheis. The railway has already described the GDL’s demand for a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours with full wage compensation as unfeasible, citing the additional staff requirements.
Is there a threat of another strike?
It remained unclear how the collective bargaining dispute would continue in the next few days. The railway canceled the second round of negotiations scheduled for this Thursday and Friday after the GDL announced a warning strike. The next meeting is scheduled for next week. It was initially unclear whether both sides would stick to it.
There may also be further warning strikes. GDL boss Claus Weselsky did not rule this out on Thursday – not even around Christmas. So far, the GDL has never gone on strike at Christmas, “but I won’t let myself be tied down to one day,” Weselsky made it clear.
End of further information