Germany: Delays & disruptions

Engineering works are happening in Germany. Major disruptions are listed below. You can check the status of a train on Deutsche Bahn's website and with Deutsche Bahn's traffic forecast tool.

IN THIS ARTICLE

Current disruption

Deutsche Bahn - Strike in Germany on 15 & 16 November 2023

Strike action has been announced from Wednesday evening of the 15th November 2023 up to and including the 16th November 2023. Massive disruptions on Deutsche Bahn's long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services must be expected.

All passengers wishing to postpone their journey planned for Wednesday evening, the 15th November 2023 and Thursday, 16th November 2023, can use their ticket on a later date. Tickets are no more bound to a specific time and date. They are valid for reaching the original destination, even with a different route. Seat reservations can be cancelled free of charge. 

Passengers can also bring their travel forward earlier on Wednesday, 15 November 2023 as part of a special goodwill gesture. In this case, we recommend travelling early in the day to ensure arriving at your destination before commencement at 10 pm. 

Deutsch Bahn - Strike by the EVG trade union from 14 May 2023

DB long-distance services will be suspended from 14.05.2023 10 p.m. to 16.05.2023 midnight due to a strike by the EVG trade union. 

Local transport will be massively affected nationwide.

Aftersales:

If you have booked a long-distance journey for this period, you now have the following options:

• Are your travel plans flexible? Can you change the date or time of your journey? If so, you can use your ticket at any time until 14.05.2023. The validity ticket will no longer be restricted to the selected train, so you can simply choose another one.
• Your train been or will be cancelled, and you have decided not to travel. You can receive a full refund of your ticket price by contacting us.

Deutsch Bahn - Strike by the EVG trade union on 21 April 2023

Due to a strike by the EVG trade union, Deutsche Bahn long-distance rail transport will be suspended from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 21.04.2023.

DB regional services will be largely cancelled in the morning.

Please note that we expect a gradual ramp-up of long distance trains on Friday, 21.04.23 from 1pm.

Aftersales:

If you have booked a long-distance journey for this period, you now have the following options:

• Are your travel plans flexible? Can you change the date or time of your journey? If so, you can use your ticket at any time from 19.04.2023 until 25.04.2023. The validity ticket will no longer be restricted to the selected train, so you can simply choose another one.
• Your train been or will be cancelled, and you have decided not to travel. You can receive a full refund of your ticket price by contacting us.

Deutsch Bahn - Strike in Germany on 27 March

Due to the strike in Germany, considerable Deutsche Bahn train cancellations and restrictions are expected from the 27th to the 28th March 2023.

• If you wish to postpone your journey planned between the 27th and the 28th March 2023 because of the strike you can use your ticket flexibly from the 23rd March to the 4th April 2023. This rule apply to Saver and Supersaver fares as well. 
• Seat reservations can be cancelled or rebooked free of charge. 
• Flexibility applies to the whole ticket, meaning that the return ticket can also be used flexibly, even if it is not booked for the 27th and 28th March.
• Other railway companies tickets (e.g. ÖBB, SBB, SNCF...) can also be used flexibly for domestic routes within Germany and for international routes to/from Germany. 
• Passengers with Nightjet tickets can use DB day trains in case of cancellation. "De Luxe" comfort category tickets are valid in 1st class, all other tickets in 2nd class.

What to do if you experience a delay

Please speak to staff on the train or at the station if you are delayed. They will have the most up to date information and can tell you what to do. Also ask the staff to stamp your ticket with proof of delay. This will make it easier for you to travel on later trains.

Keep all of your tickets until you return home. They can be used to submit a claim to the rail operator if you incur any unavoidable additional costs (new tickets, taxis).

For more information, please see our Help article: What happens if I miss my connection. If you need to submit a claim, see: Submitting a claim to Deutsche Bahn.