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The German Locomotive Drivers’ Union (GDL) has been conducting a nationwide warning strike at Deutsche Bahn and other railway companies since late Thursday evening. The impact was especially noticeable when operations began early Friday morning.

“The GDL strike is causing enormous disruption to all long-distance and regional traffic,” the railway announced this morning. “The emergency timetable for DB passenger transport has started.”

As announced, about one in five long-distance trains is on its way, a Deutsche Bahn spokeswoman said on Friday.

The SBB advised not to travel to Germany until Friday evening. Tickets would remain valid. The canceled cross-border trains will be replaced within Switzerland, an SBB spokesperson announced at the request of Keystone-SDA.

Different effects depending on the region

According to the spokeswoman, the effects in German regional transport are very different. “Many passengers brought forward their journey or were able to postpone it to a later date,” the report said. Early in the morning the train stations were largely empty. “This strike was announced at very short notice, but we were still able to draw up our emergency schedule in time.”

Especially in Bavaria, where the railway is still dealing with the consequences of the snow chaos, there are hardly any trains on the road. The railway announced that the offer will be greater in other regions.

This is the second warning strike by the train drivers’ union GDL in the current collective labor agreement negotiation round at Deutsche Bahn. It would last until 10pm on Friday evening. In freight traffic he started a little earlier on Thursday. The railway fears a backlog of about 300 freight trains here. (sda/dpa)