The 20-hour warning work stoppage of German Railways (DB) train drivers has been ongoing since yesterday, Wednesday, at 10:00 p.m., which has mainly affected long-distance travel and freight transport. The mobilization ends tonight at 18:00.

“Almost nothing is moving,” a DB spokesman said, noting that only 20% of long-haul routes are running normally. Indicatively, instead of 700 trains a day, today there are only 140. However, the German media reports that there has been no chaos at the stations, as “passengers had prepared for this and many chose to work from home”. In many cases the emergency schedule was in effect, with connections every one or two hours between major cities, such as on the Hamburg – Kiel line, while additional trains have been added to the trains that are running. In special cases, train drivers from Germany’s neighboring countries, who are employed in cross-border movements, can even work on the trains.

There is an increased demand for travel by bus, but also for rental cars. DB has a fleet of intercity buses which can be used free of charge by those who have already purchased a rail ticket, however it encourages its customers to postpone their current journey by redeeming or changing their ticket free of charge. The smooth operation is not expected, according to a representative of the company, before – at the earliest – tomorrow morning.

In negotiations with Deutsche Bahn, the train drivers’ union is demanding a salary increase of 555 euros per month and an “inflation bonus” of 3,000 euros. In addition, a reduction in working hours is claimed, from 38 to 35 working hours per week with full remuneration for those employed in shifts.