Visitors in Europe trying to go on a Eurail train trip this week should avoid German Rail. The GDL train drivers’ union called on Sunday for a seven-day strike, starting with freight trains on Monday and passenger traffic on Tuesday. Of course it’s all a dispute with Deutsche Bahn about pay.
This is number eight. Airlines, train strike – Germany usually known as one of the most reliable countries is becoming a gambling place when relying on public transportation.
The strike will start on Monday at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) for freight trains and at 2 a.m. Tuesday for passenger services.
The stoppages will continue until 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, GDL said.
Deutsche Bahn said in a statement: “This strike is completely inappropriate and totally over the top … The GDL union is going to cause massive harm to rail passengers, Deutsche Bahn and its employees, but also to the German economy.”
Previous rail strikes last year and last month affected millions of people, not only tourists, but those who travel by rail each day across Germany and hit industries reliant on rail freight such as automakers, chemical companies and steel producers.
Both GDL with its 20,000 members, and the railways, which has about 200,000 employees, have blamed each other for the breakdown in talks that led to the strikes.
Germany’s rail system carries more than 5.5 million passengers a day.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Previous rail strikes last year and last month affected millions of people, not only tourists, but those who travel by rail each day across Germany and hit industries reliant on rail freight such as automakers, chemical companies and steel producers.
- Both GDL with its 20,000 members, and the railways, which has about 200,000 employees, have blamed each other for the breakdown in talks that led to the strikes.
- The strike will start on Monday at 3 p.
