Only a fifth of the trains that normally run were on the rails in Germany today, and the railway’s emergency timetable will remain in place even following the strike ends, said Deutsche Bahn (DB). Meanwhile, Austro traffic via the Deutsche Eck from Salzburg to Tyrol ran without restrictions.
However, most connections to and through Germany from Austria were still canceled, an ÖBB spokesman regretted when asked. “Many passengers have also postponed their trips to Germany.”
The ÖBB was still able to operate some connections beyond Passau to Nuremberg from Vienna or Linz and also from Innsbruck to Munich, according to the spokesman. “There are no restrictions across the Deutsches Eck, traffic runs as planned.” As reported, trains from the mostly private Westbahn to Munich are not canceled because there are no driver changes at border stations.
In Germany, the emergency timetable concept has worked, a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn (DB) said on ZDF television Thursday morning. Accordingly, around 20 percent of the trains run. There are no long queues or overcrowded trains. “We have the feeling that passengers have gotten used to the GDL strike.”
“The path of compromise” must be taken
The spokeswoman called on the train drivers’ union GDL to return to the negotiating table. The railway has made an offer and suggested flexible working hours; this should not be “swept off the table” straight away. The DB is ready to talk to the GDL, but not in a “confrontational ironing out of suggestions”. Instead, the “path of compromise” must be taken.
The chairman of the Pro Bahn passenger association, Detlef Neuß, quickly called for further negotiations. “We as a passenger association expect that we will sit down once more, talk regarding the tariff targets and come to a sensible result,” he told the editorial network Germany.
In addition to salary increases for employees in shift work, the GDL is also calling for a reduction in weekly working hours with full wage compensation. The railway initially strictly rejected negotiations on this matter, citing the shortage of skilled workers. Last week it offered a model with which shift workers might reduce or increase their weekly working hours. However, the company remained cautious when it came to the issue of wage compensation.
