Planning on taking the train in Germany? Better have a backup plan.
May 5th, 2015, 03:31 AM
#21
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<i>Is there a decent chance that this situation will stretch into the summer? </i>
That depends entirely on whether or not an agreement is reached between the union and DB.
<i>And would the strike affect EC trains that originate or end in Germany?</i>
Check this link for details: https://www.b-europe.com/Travel/Practical/Alerts
That depends entirely on whether or not an agreement is reached between the union and DB.
<i>And would the strike affect EC trains that originate or end in Germany?</i>
Check this link for details: https://www.b-europe.com/Travel/Practical/Alerts
May 5th, 2015, 05:27 AM
#22
@sparkchaser - that link says that Thalys will operate normally, doesn't mention ICE. I just bought a ticket for ICE Lubeck-Copenhagen for July... and there is no way I will drive that.
This doesn't affect U-bahn and S-bahn, right? In other words, I would still be able to go Berlin-Potsdam, but maybe not Berlin-Shwerin?
This doesn't affect U-bahn and S-bahn, right? In other words, I would still be able to go Berlin-Potsdam, but maybe not Berlin-Shwerin?
May 5th, 2015, 05:41 AM
#23
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U-bahn is local networks and those should be running normally. My local S-Bahn is a local network but it is still affected by the strike.
ICE is a DB product and if they are on strike during your trip in July, you are potentially impacted (because nobody knows if there will be a rail strike on your travel date).
Do you feel lucky?
ICE is a DB product and if they are on strike during your trip in July, you are potentially impacted (because nobody knows if there will be a rail strike on your travel date).
Do you feel lucky?
May 5th, 2015, 06:28 AM
#25
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Thanks for the links, they're helpful. Hopefully they're also accurate 
Anyone know if historically the strikes actually end when they say they will? Or is there a good chance train travel the week beginning May 10 will also be a mess?
Anyone know if historically the strikes actually end when they say they will? Or is there a good chance train travel the week beginning May 10 will also be a mess?
May 5th, 2015, 07:23 AM
#26
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What will happen after this week-long strike, nobody can predict. Maybe they find an agreement, maybe there will be more strikes.>
to answer your question "Is there a good chance train travel the week beginning May 10 will also be a mess?"
well traveler1959 lives in Germany I believe and knows these things better than most and he said above:
<What will happen after this week-long strike, nobody can predict. Maybe they find an agreement, maybe there will be more strikes.>
The German railways are going thru a period of intense labor-management friction so expect strikes at anytime - that is what I gather from above posts anyway. Don't count on it ending when it says it will end. Unfortuantely.
to answer your question "Is there a good chance train travel the week beginning May 10 will also be a mess?"
well traveler1959 lives in Germany I believe and knows these things better than most and he said above:
<What will happen after this week-long strike, nobody can predict. Maybe they find an agreement, maybe there will be more strikes.>
The German railways are going thru a period of intense labor-management friction so expect strikes at anytime - that is what I gather from above posts anyway. Don't count on it ending when it says it will end. Unfortuantely.
May 5th, 2015, 10:10 AM
#28
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FWIW, I checked tomorrow's schedule for two trains I'd be taking this summer. For EC 173 from Berlin to Prague, they are selling full fare refundable tickets, but not discounted tickets. But for Berlin, it indicates "Stop Cancelled".
For EC/ALX 354, from Prague to Munich, they are selling full fare tickets, and there are no other notes, so apparently that train is running.
For EC/ALX 354, from Prague to Munich, they are selling full fare tickets, and there are no other notes, so apparently that train is running.
May 5th, 2015, 11:36 AM
#30
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For EC/ALX 354, from Prague to Munich, they are selling full fare tickets, and there are no other notes, so apparently that train is running.- It's not a DB train right - the strike is only on DB trains? I'm curious or an all of Germany's various railways?
May 5th, 2015, 03:16 PM
#32
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PQ, don't know the answer to that one. They're both EC trains, but maybe it has to do with where they originate, and who's driving? Probably very difficult to figure out on an individual basis.
sparkchaser, thanks for the advice, but I was mainly posting that info for the benefit of others who may be wondering about whether EC trains might be affected.
sparkchaser, thanks for the advice, but I was mainly posting that info for the benefit of others who may be wondering about whether EC trains might be affected.
May 5th, 2015, 11:58 PM
#33
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"Anyone know if historically the strikes actually end when they say they will? Or is there a good chance train travel the week beginning May 10 will also be a mess?"
The strike won't run into Monday 11th and I think the chances are very low that there'll be an additional strike in that week (at least I can't remember a precedent for that). But there's no guarantee that there's no strike in two weeks.
As far as I understand it, the main problem with the negotiations is that two unions are involved. So the negotiations aren't just about wages or work environment but also involve a power struggle between the two unions. This is somewhat unusual for Germany and makes it very difficult to predict how long it'll take to find a solution for the dispute.
The strike won't run into Monday 11th and I think the chances are very low that there'll be an additional strike in that week (at least I can't remember a precedent for that). But there's no guarantee that there's no strike in two weeks.
As far as I understand it, the main problem with the negotiations is that two unions are involved. So the negotiations aren't just about wages or work environment but also involve a power struggle between the two unions. This is somewhat unusual for Germany and makes it very difficult to predict how long it'll take to find a solution for the dispute.
May 6th, 2015, 09:18 AM
#34
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Just logged on and am reeling! Will be arriving May 20 and have planned to use trains exclusively for 13 days. Glad I logged on, would have hated to be surprised by this. Will be traveling Muc to GP, GP to Nurnberg, Nurnberg to Boppard, Boppard to Frankfurt
Don't want to drive, and wondering if now that this is an issue, a car will be difficult to get
Don't want to drive, and wondering if now that this is an issue, a car will be difficult to get
May 8th, 2015, 02:21 AM
#37
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Short update from my experience with taking a train during the strike: I ended up about 45 minutes late due to a missed connection but this happens also quite frequently without a strike. Even though I travelled around rush-hour for business travellers (17:30-20:00) the train wasn't especially full (in my opinion emptier than normal) and I found a seat without a reservation.
I'm sure that there are many examples for worse experiences but thingsa can also work out well.
I'm sure that there are many examples for worse experiences but thingsa can also work out well.
May 8th, 2015, 03:39 AM
#38
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I didn't notice this on the DB website the last time I was on it, so maybe it's new. It states that refunds will be provided for cancelled trains, or passengers can change to an alternative train. It adds that saver fare (sparpreis) tickets will no longer be subject to the specific train restriction. So apparently if you have a sparpreis ticket and your train gets cancelled you are covered.
If you buy specially discounted tickets on regional trains - like happy weekend or laender tickets, you're up the creek.
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/home/konta...lanz_eng.shtml
If you buy specially discounted tickets on regional trains - like happy weekend or laender tickets, you're up the creek.
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/home/konta...lanz_eng.shtml
May 8th, 2015, 05:20 AM
#39
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Wednesday, I went by train from Basle via Mannheim to Stuttgart and Thursday afternoon/evening, I came back the same way. All trains were in time (according to Ersatzfahrplan) and I always found free seats. No problem with UBahn/S-Bahn within Stuttgart neither.
ATM's worked normally, why shouldn't they?
But I agree that the strike situation is much worse in Bavaria and within strike fan areas like Brandenburg.
ATM's worked normally, why shouldn't they?
But I agree that the strike situation is much worse in Bavaria and within strike fan areas like Brandenburg.
May 8th, 2015, 05:31 AM
#40
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Well, I'm not sure that the strike situation is much worse in Bavaria . . .
It depends on which train you're taking and where you're going. Quite a lot of the trains south of Munich are run by Meridian, which is a private company and not affected by the DB strike. Other trains into Austria are Austrian Railjet, also not affected by the strike.
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It depends on which train you're taking and where you're going. Quite a lot of the trains south of Munich are run by Meridian, which is a private company and not affected by the DB strike. Other trains into Austria are Austrian Railjet, also not affected by the strike.
s
