Once again the GDL is striking rail traffic. There will also be significant restrictions in Hesse from Wednesday night. There are some special features in Frankfurt and Rhine-Main.
Update from Tuesday, January 23rd, 12:35 p.m: Deutsche Bahn has again drawn up an emergency timetable in view of the rail strike. While the train drivers’ union GDL is on strike this week, restrictions apply to the following train lines:
Which trains will not run in Hesse during the rail strike
- RE16: Frankfurt – Friedrichsdorf – Friedberg: Traffic is stopped.
- RE20: Frankfurt – Niedernhausen – Limburg: traffic is stopped.
- RB22: Frankfurt – Niedernhausen – Limburg: The trains run every 2 hours and also stop at all stations along the way between Niedernhausen and Frankfurt-Höchst. There may be delays.
- RE30: Frankfurt – Giessen – Marburg – Treysa – Kassel: The trains run every 2 hours between Frankfurt and Marburg.
- RB34: (Frankfurt -) Bad Vilbel – Nidderau – Glauburg-Stockheim: The trains run every 2 hours between Glauburg-Stockheim and Bad Vilbel. Trains do not run between Bad Vilbel and Frankfurt Hbf. Bus number 30 can be used here.
- RB48: Frankfurt – Friedberg – Nidda: Traffic is stopped.
- RE5/50/51: Frankfurt – Hanau – Waechtersbach – Fulda: Traffic on the RE5 and RB51 lines will be stopped. The RE50 trains run every 1 hour between Hanau and Fulda and also stop at all en route stations between Hanau and Fulda. There may be delays. There are no trains between Hanau and Frankfurt.
- RE60: Frankfurt – Darmstadt – Bensheim – Mannheim: Traffic will be stopped.
- RB61: (Frankfurt -) Dreieich-Buchschlag – Rödermark-Ober Roden (- Dieburg): The trains run every 2 hours.
- RB67: Frankfurt – Darmstadt Hbf – Bensheim – Schwetzingen (- Hockenheim): The trains run every 2 hours between Frankfurt and Neu-Edingen/Friedrichsfeld.
- RB68: Frankfurt(Main)Hbf – Darmstadt Hbf – Bensheim – Heidelberg Hbf (- Wiesloch-Walldorf): The trains run every 2 hours between Frankfurt Hbf and Neu-Edingen/Friedrichsfeld.
The following restrictions initially apply to the S-Bahn lines in the RMV area, which normally cover a large area of the Rhine-Main area. However, as with the previous rail strike, the timing can change again and again. Current information is available in the digital timetable information.
- The S1 runs every hour.
- The S2 runs every hour between Offenbach Ost and Dietzenbach until around 8 p.m. From 8 p.m. the S2 runs every hour between Niedernhausen and Dietzenbach.
- The S3 runs every hour.
- The S4 fails completely.
- The S5 runs every hour.
- The S6 runs every hour.
- The S8 runs every hour between Wiesbaden and Offenbach Ost and during the S9 travel times every hour between Offenbach Ost and Hanau.
- The S9 fails completely.
Deutsche Bahn also points out the express buses in the Rhine-Main area, which can be recognized by the X in the route number.
First report from Monday, January 22nd, 10:07 a.m.: Frankfurt – The next rail strike is coming for public transport users in Hesse. The train drivers’ union GDL has called on Deutsche Bahn employees to go on a six-day strike. Massive restrictions are expected again. In Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main area, the S-Bahn services are likely to operate only to a very limited extent again. Subways, trams and bus services are not affected by the strike.
The RMV also confirms the latter: “Regional trains and S-Bahn trains in the RMV area are also likely to be affected by the work stoppages,” it says there. However, subways, trams and buses in Frankfurt will run. Recently, only high sickness rates caused restrictions here.
New rail strike hits Frankfurt and Hesse: What is happening at HLB, VIAS and Co.?
The next rail strike starts early Wednesday morning (January 24th) at 2 a.m. And this time the GDL has announced that it will end the work stoppages in passenger transport on Monday (January 29th) at 6 p.m. The railway is already saying that “massive disruptions to long-distance, regional and S-Bahn traffic” are expected. An emergency timetable is being drawn up again. However, this will only ensure a hull offer.
What exactly does the strike called by the GDL mean for public transport users in Hesse? Ultimately, numerous cancellations in regional and long-distance rail transport are expected again. The VIAS, Vlexx, Cantus-Bahn and Hessischer Landesbahn (HLB) lines, however, were not recently on strike. However, as soon as signal boxes go on strike, this can also have an impact on connections from other providers in the Rhine-Main area and other parts of Hesse.
The railway and the GDL have been negotiating new collective agreements since the beginning of November. The main sticking point is the GDL’s demand for a reduction in weekly working hours with full pay. The railway rejects this. It was only on Friday (January 19th) that Deutsche Bahn presented a new tariff offer to bring the GDL back to the negotiating table. This also includes, among other things, an option for one hour less working time for train drivers and train attendants from January 1, 2026. However, this was apparently not enough for new negotiations.
Rail customers in Frankfurt can use tickets later or earlier due to the GDL strike
The now announced industrial action would be the fourth in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute. Before the turn of the year, the GDL paralyzed large parts of passenger traffic in two warning strikes, followed in January by a three-day strike with a similar effect.
According to Deutsche Bahn, all customers who would like to postpone their trip planned for January 24th to 29th 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, as the railway says. In addition, as part of a special gesture of goodwill, passengers on long-distance and regional transport have the opportunity to bring their journey forward and travel on January 22nd or 23rd.