Travelers across Germany will have to prepare for far-reaching restrictions on rail, air and local transport, as well as waterways next Monday. Unions want to paralyze much of public transport. The warning strike is organized by the railway and transport union (EVG) and Verdi, both organizations announced on Thursday in Berlin. Verdi is calling on 120,000 transport and infrastructure workers to join union action.
No local and long distance trains
Due to the strike, no local and long-distance trains will be able to cross the border to and from Germany all day on Monday. In Vorarlberg, trains in the direction of Lindau-Reutin will terminate at Lochau-Hörbranz, and in Tyrol, local transport in the direction of Mittenwald will only run to/from Scharnitz. Rail replacement buses may be available for some of the short connections.
Time changes in long distance traffic
Inland Austrian daytime traffic between Salzburg and Tyrol via the Deutsches Eck is also affected by the restrictions. Individual night train connections are already affected from the night of March 25th to March 26th. Some of the restrictions on night train services will last until the night of March 28th to March 29th.
ÖBB is asking all affected travelers to postpone non-essential travel to a later date or choose alternative travel options.
Because of the strike, trains cannot pass through Deutsches Eck. All RJ and RJX connections scheduled to run via Deutsches Eck terminate and begin at Salzburg Hbf or Kufstein. The ÖBB set up a shuttle service every two hours between Salzburg Hbf and Wörgl Hbf. This increases travel time by up to three hours.
RJX trains to/from Munich start and end at Salzburg Hbf and IC and ICE trains to/from Passau must be cancelled. Other long-distance trains from Austria and Switzerland via Lindau-Reutin are soon to be operated, as are long-distance trains via the Tauern/Ennstal route and the Brenner route.
Night trains Vienna-Bregenz are diverted
Night trains are also affected by the strike and are being diverted or canceled in whole or in part. Among other things, the Vienna-Bregenz and Vienna-Zurich night trains will be diverted, which is why the travel time will be extended in some cases. All other night trains and Euronight connections operating to, from and via Germany have been canceled in whole or in part.
information for travelers
Travelers are asked to inform themselves about their planned connections before starting their journey on the ÖBB Scotty timetable information, on the ÖBB app or by calling ÖBB-Service at 05-1717-0. Affected trains will be updated on ÖBB systems as soon as possible.
Tickets can be canceled
Tickets booked for travel to, from or via Germany during the strike can be canceled free of charge and refunded if travel does not take place. The train connection for Sparschiene tickets valid during the strike period and purchased until March 23 is considered to be suspended: ÖBB Sparschiene national tickets for connections on March 27 via Deutsches Eck can therefore be used until March 29 inclusive . For all night trains affected by cancellations or partial cancellations due to the strike, tickets can also be canceled and refunded free of charge.