A 48-hour strike starting from Friday in public transport across Germany
Public transport across Germany is set to face major disruption as a 48-hour strike begins on Friday, affecting millions of passengers and bringing local travel in many cities to a near standstill.
The strike will impact buses, trams and underground trains in numerous towns and cities, including Berlin and Hamburg. Services are expected to stop from early Friday morning and, in several areas, continue into Saturday. Passengers are being urged to prepare for long delays and limited alternatives.
National railway services such as S-Bahn, regional trains and long-distance DB trains, as well as air and road traffic, are expected to run normally. However, authorities warn that indirect disruptions and overcrowding may still occur due to the shutdown of local transport networks.
The walkout was called by the Verdi trade union, which represents around 100,000 employees working for about 150 transport companies. The action follows stalled negotiations over wages and working conditions. A similar strike earlier this month already caused widespread disruption across the country.
Verdi Deputy Chair كريستينه بهله said workers urgently need relief and better conditions. She added that employers must understand that public transport cannot continue functioning in the long term without serious improvements to working conditions.