German rail strike halts trains nationwide

FRANKFURT AM Main: Germany was plunged into transport chaos as most train services were halted by a railworkers’ strike over pay, affecting millions of passengers.

Inter-city and regional services as well as many urban commuter trains were cancelled nationwide by the four-hour stoppage from 5am local time, Deutsche Bahn (DB) said yesterday.

The strike halted all high-speed ICE trains and other inter-city services as well as most cargo trains, and its ripple effects and delays were expected to continue well into the afternoon.

In Berlin, where additionally the entire public announcement system broke down, frustrated commuters were asked to switch from S-Bahn commuter trains operated by DB to subways, buses or trams.

The strike came after talks broke down on Saturday between the DB and the EVG railworkers’ union, which is demanding a 7.5% salary rise for 160,000 employees.

“The employer made offers which did not correspond to the demands of our members,” said EVG negotiator Regina Rusch-Ziemba.

DB shot back and described the strike as a “completely unnecessary escalation”, insisting its offer was “attractive and met the main demands” of employees.

DB had offered a pay rise of 5.1% in two phases, with an option for staff to take extra time off instead, and a one-off payment of 500 euros (RM2,367), the DPA national news agency reported.

DB in a tweet also denied it had broken off the negotiations, charging that “the EVG left the talks and went on strike”.