The German train drivers’ strike brought passenger rail services across Germany to a near stand-still on Wednesday morning, writes German news agency DPA.
Numerous employees started their industrial action at 2 am (0100 GMT), German rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) announced. In freight transport, the strike started on Tuesday evening at 6 pm. The industrial action is to continue until Friday evening at 6 pm.
An emergency timetable is in operation, with around 80% of the usual long-distance services being struck from the departures board.
There will also be far-reaching restrictions to regional services, although the extent of these will vary from region to region, DB said. The company had previously failed in a final attempt to prevent the industrial action at a labour court.
The strike coincides with the nationwide farmers’ protests, which could lead to further traffic disruptions on Wednesday. Rallies, demonstrations and blockades at motorway slip roads have been announced, meaning that commuters could face a stressful day in some places.
The railway strike is the third and longest to date in the current wage dispute between the German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn. The railway company Transdev has also been hit with strike action by the GDL.
Restrictions can still be expected in the hours after the official end of the strike, as trains are moved around the country so that services can return to normal.
DB has urged passengers to postpone journeys planned between Wednesday and Friday.
According to Deutsche Bahn, the normal rule that passengers must travel on the train for which their ticket is issued has been lifted from January 10 to 12, meaning that customers can still make their journey in the days following the strike.
On Tuesday evening, Deutsche Bahn called on the GDL to return to the negotiating table.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing also called on both sides to negotiate. “A way must be found that both sides can come to terms with. This means talking to each other,” Wissing told German newspaper Bild in remarks published on Wednesday morning.
GDL boss Claus Weselsky, on the other hand, insisted that it was up to the railway to present an improved offer. “The question of shortening the strike is not up for debate,” he said.
Since the beginning of November, the GDL has been in conflict with Deutsche Bahn and other railway companies over a demand for higher wages. At the heart of the current wage dispute is the union’s demand for a reduction in weekly working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours.
The railway considers this demand to be unreasonable. It is only prepared to talk to the union about extending existing optional shift flexibility models.
In the current industrial dispute, the GDL has already called two 24-hour strikes in passenger services. In December the union held a ballot for its members to vote on whether strikes could be made indefinite. Around 97% of members who voted were in favour. Since then, longer strikes have been possible.
