Germany train strike

C
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I was just I formed by nightjet that Germany will be going on strike from 2000 GMT on Sunday (May 14) until at 2200 GMT on Tuesday (May 16).  This is during the window in which we are traveling via train to Germany and then on to the Netherlands.  

They did not say that our tickets were cancelled, just that I should postpone my travel.  Is that the same as canceling my ticket or will they still have limited service and I should continue as planned?  As for postponing that is not possible, we are on holiday travel and will need to get back to the Netherlands to catch a flight. How should I proceed?

33 replies

R
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So after all that the strike is cancelled …..

Yes, but it remains to be seen which trains will actually run. They now have just over a day to reorganise all shifts again. There will likely be many more cancellations than normal there will definitely be trains running.

DB say they expect to have the information tomorrow by noon.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
B
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So after all that the strike is cancelled …..

T
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In Sweden yes. Not in Germany

It is not possible to reach Amsterdam in a day due to the TGV schedules. What would be your travel date ?

Either night in Milan, Turin or Paris

- TGV Milan - Paris about 33€

- Thalys Paris - Amsterdam 32€

Some trains are sold out so I need to know your travel date. Example on 15th May :

- Roma Termini - Torino Porta Susa 12:10 - 16:49 13€

- Torino Porta Susa - Paris 17:38 - 23:24 33€

16th May : morning Thalys to Amsterdam 32€

OR

15th May : any train to Milan or Turin (13€)

16th May :

- TGV Milan/Turin - Paris 06:00 (07:36) - 13:16 33€

- Thalys Paris - Brussels 14:22 - 15:44 27€

- IC Brussels - Amsterdam 16:45 - 19:35 reservation-free

Which route did you take through Switzerland ? If you choose the Gotthard you could travel via Bern and Strasbourg or even Geneva for a completely different experience (night along the way anyway). It would be way less expensive too. I'd advise that one. Let me know :)

C
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Hi Anna

We are arriving into Stockholm 17 May and catching a train to Oslo on 20 May - is that likely to be affected ?

As the strike just has been postponed a few days, going to from Stockholm to Oslo on the 20th should work. Previously the trains between Stockholm and Oslo should be affected from the 18th but that has been moved to the 22nd now.

The 50 hrs strike has been postponed????

C
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So it looks like I just need to cut out our trip to Munich. Our original plan was 2 over night trains fron Rome to Munich and then again Munich to Amsterdam. This also allowed for over half a day to explore munich.  Now I need to figure out how to get from Rome to Amsterdam without going through Germany. Any suggestions would be helpful.  From what I gather I can get a train to Paris and then on to Amsterdam. Any other routes?

 

Also, what is the best way to book the tickets and still be able to specify the seats we want and use out Global pass?

A nice trip would be through Switzerland. If you take a high speed train to Milan you can then travel with reservation free trains to and through Switzerland. 

This was the route we took to get to Rome.  Now  we are trying to get to Amsterdam and spend a few days there before our flight departs.  Therefore, we are trying to do it all in one day or overnight.

C
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Definitely go via Switzerland.

I'd avoid Paris because there is a lot of extra fees. Milan - Paris cost 30€ and is surely sold out + Paris - Amsterdam is highly likely sold out, it can be the case weeks in advance

If you let me know your travel dates I'll make you a precise itinerary suggestion but for now here's what I'd do :

- DAY 1 Rome - Milan (13€) - Lugano/Locarno or Lucerne (no reservation)

- DAY 2 Lugano/Locarno/Lucerne - Basel - Strasbourg

- DAY 3 Strasbourg - Metz - Luxembourg - Brussels - Amsterdam OR Strasbourg - Lille (20€) - Kortrijk - Antwerpen - Amsterdam. Both options roughly take the same time and you could stop along the way in whichever city you'd like (everything is reservation-free except the Strasbourg - Lille TGV)

If you have 2 travel days then Rome - Basel/Strasbourg on day 1 and Basel/Strasbourg on day 2 : totally manageable, don't worry :)

We would prefer to do the trip to Amsterdam in a single day

A
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Hi Anna

We are arriving into Stockholm 17 May and catching a train to Oslo on 20 May - is that likely to be affected ?

As the strike just has been postponed a few days, going to from Stockholm to Oslo on the 20th should work. Previously the trains between Stockholm and Oslo should be affected from the 18th but that has been moved to the 22nd now.

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
B
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Hi Anna

We are arriving into Stockholm 17 May and catching a train to Oslo on 20 May - is that likely to be affected ?

T
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Hi Angelo / Thicabe

Thank you for your messages

We went to the oebb ticket office here in Innsbruck and now have an itinerary going via Kitzbuhel. The timings of the rail replacement from Worgl were not known so onwards booking from Salzburg couldn’t be made … very surprised at that so we decided to go the long pretty route 

Keeping everything crossed this works !

Nice that they could help

And yes the Kitzbuhel route is pretty scenic :)

A
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I have the same issue in that I cannot get to Hamburg for my connection to Copenhagen on to Stockholm. I have therefore purchased flights and additional accommodation in Austria to get me to Stockholm as cheaper than Copenhagen. I assume that I can make a claim to DB for these costs ? Got caught in last month’s train strike as well !

You might be unlucky i Sweden as well as there might be a partial train strike there at the end of next week. For how long time will you be staying in Stockholm?

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
B
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Hi Angelo / Thicabe

Thank you for your messages

We went to the oebb ticket office here in Innsbruck and now have an itinerary going via Kitzbuhel. The timings of the rail replacement from Worgl were not known so onwards booking from Salzburg couldn’t be made … very surprised at that so we decided to go the long pretty route 

Keeping everything crossed this works !

A
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So it looks like I just need to cut out our trip to Munich. Our original plan was 2 over night trains fron Rome to Munich and then again Munich to Amsterdam. This also allowed for over half a day to explore munich.  Now I need to figure out how to get from Rome to Amsterdam without going through Germany. Any suggestions would be helpful.  From what I gather I can get a train to Paris and then on to Amsterdam. Any other routes?

 

Also, what is the best way to book the tickets and still be able to specify the seats we want and use out Global pass?

A nice trip would be through Switzerland. If you take a high speed train to Milan you can then travel with reservation free trains to and through Switzerland. 

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
T
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Userlevel 7
Badge +5

Definitely go via Switzerland.

I'd avoid Paris because there is a lot of extra fees. Milan - Paris cost 30€ and is surely sold out + Paris - Amsterdam is highly likely sold out, it can be the case weeks in advance

If you let me know your travel dates I'll make you a precise itinerary suggestion but for now here's what I'd do :

- DAY 1 Rome - Milan (13€) - Lugano/Locarno or Lucerne (no reservation)

- DAY 2 Lugano/Locarno/Lucerne - Basel - Strasbourg

- DAY 3 Strasbourg - Metz - Luxembourg - Brussels - Amsterdam OR Strasbourg - Lille (20€) - Kortrijk - Antwerpen - Amsterdam. Both options roughly take the same time and you could stop along the way in whichever city you'd like (everything is reservation-free except the Strasbourg - Lille TGV)

If you have 2 travel days then Rome - Basel/Strasbourg on day 1 and Basel/Strasbourg on day 2 : totally manageable, don't worry :)

C
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So it looks like I just need to cut out our trip to Munich. Our original plan was 2 over night trains fron Rome to Munich and then again Munich to Amsterdam. This also allowed for over half a day to explore munich.  Now I need to figure out how to get from Rome to Amsterdam without going through Germany. Any suggestions would be helpful.  From what I gather I can get a train to Paris and then on to Amsterdam. Any other routes?

 

Also, what is the best way to book the tickets and still be able to specify the seats we want and use out Global pass?

Angelo
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Yes the train from Innsbruck to Vienna goes via Germany (non stop in germany, but is afected by the strike)!

 

There is a rail replacement bus between Wörgl and Salzburg or you can take extra trains via Austrian Alps from Wörgl to Salzburg (takes longer than the train via Germany 1,5-2h longer)

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the community! Known languages: Deutsch, Italiano, English.
B
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And now …: Innsbruck to Vienna cancelled - I am beyond angry now 

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Yes I got an email for the reservation but on the app the info has not changed one bit - (signed out and in) sorry but DB are no way near the service level of OEBB - and yes they are all cancelled but I do not expect to have to search the timetable for a booking I have…..

OEBB emailed me this morning to tell me train fro Como to Verona was 9 minutes late ….  DB a timetable change / cancelled NOTHING

As said reservations ONLY booked as have 1st class pass …

 

T
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This is not the timetable but the booking confirmation (6 letter and number combination). You should've received an email from DB though...

If you search for trains between Munich and Hamburg on 15th May then you'll see that they're all cancelled.

B
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No I booked all my reservations via Db and OEBB - this what I still have now for my trip to Hamburg (in the DB app) - still not cancelled and neither is the correct time according to their timetable now….. more steam out of my ears !

 

T
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I completely agree that it is such a mess… I really hope DB will refund you but I do not know what your rights are for all that

You don’t have to pay for 1st class optional seat reservations (through tickets.oebb.at) + more trains would have been available but in the end your travel plans are still changed

Btw do you mean Rail Planner app ? It never shows cancelled or delayed trains. Please never use that one to plan. On the other hand bahn.de is way more reliable across all of Europe

B
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By the way my Interrail is 1st class pass ….

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Hi Thicabe 

yes I could go tomorrow but that means I lose money and it messes my BOOKED holiday plans …. It’s not my fault so I will argue fully with DB and my booking to Hamburg from Munich in my app is not saying cancelled -they really are a shower - thank goodness for OEBB letting me know otherwise I’d be none the wiser …. Vienna is now booked so we will see what happens with the claim! I have yet to make my claim from the last strike as well … they will love me … Not ! 
thank you for taking the time to reply and looking as well - much appreciated

T
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Reservations are optional in Germany so you could have always boarded any train, although it would be a bit chaotic without reservations right now.

There are hundreds of seats for Innsbruck - Munich - Hamburg tomorrow available on bahn.de (4.50€ for the whole journey) : direct train 08:40 - 18:36 or faster connections via Munich (departure 08:40, arrival 17:24 as an example). You could also travel early Sunday morning from Munich to Hamburg.

Hamburg - Copenhagen could easily be done on 17th May (30 DKK reservation for peace of mind), all the way to Stockholm too. Morning train Hamburg - Copenhagen 08:56 - 14:11

But I guess everything has already been booked and is non-refundable ? Then take the Vienna route and you’ll be fine (I hope that DB will refund but it will be hard and may take months...)

 

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hi Thicabe - I am in Innsbruck tonight having travelled from Bellagio Italy (12th) with reservation Sunday (14th) to Munich then overnight stay in hotel and going to Hamburg (15th) leaving 17th to go Copenhagen. Could not get a reservation tomorrow to get to Hamburg with my Interrail and not prepared to pay silly money for a ticket just to get to Hamburg and losing my holiday stays in Innsbruck or Munich. I am now staying here in Innsbruck till 16th and train to Vienna and flying to Stockholm (my final destination on 17th). Flights to Hamburg from Munich are ridiculous prices - my cost flight plus overnight in Vienna is cheaper than the Munich flights. I will argue like anything with DB over these two costs getting reimbursed (not hotel in Innsbruck) - I got 3 hours sleep last night trying to sort this and think I’ve done the best I could…

R
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My problem is: the other intercity train reservations are non-refundable. But since the strike caused the cancellation of my trip, shouldn't I still be receiving a refund for these reservations? 

Can someone tell me how I can request a refund for the reservations of these intercity trains? Should Deutsche Bahn pay for this?

If you can't use your reservations because of the strike, then you can get a full refund from the place where you booked them.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.

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