Train Strikes in Germany

Here we go again. I'm leaving for Frankfurt tonight. Coming back Tuesday. I'm assuming taxi's are running so I can get to the airport.

Strike has been cancelled.

Some reading about the called-off strike.
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-50-hour-deutsche-bahn-rail-strike-called-off/a-65611896

But still not all trains will run. The stolid DB finds the time too short to reschedule. One gets the impression that the current management has no desire to operate trains, but prefers to speculate on the world markets with pork halves.

Good to hear the strike is now a non-issue. Getting subscribed for the Deutschland-Ticket, then not having any trains to ride... that could have soured millions of Germans on public transport altogether. And spoiled many traveler's plans.

€49/mo. is insanely cheap IMHO. I'd expect the price to rise in a big way over time. Enjoy the abundant travel while it's cheap, as the deal is probably unsustainable. New union contracts, inflation, etc. will have their financial impact on the system. Beyond that, €49/mo. is already wildly out of synch with current monthly pricing in the individual transport authorities. Presently, the standard monthly subscription rate for commuters and others using unlimited local transport within the relatively tiny VRM zone (Rhine/Mosel area) is €243/mo. - 5 times price of the D-Ticket! Senior citizen rates are now €49/mo., roughly half as much as they were paying prior to May. It's hard to see how federal funding can continue to cover operational costs over time if the net loss of revenues in the 80 or so other transport authorities in Germany is comparable.

The most important info first. During the discussion about the 49 Euro ticket the Federal Government already said that it was only the starting price and that it would definitely be more expensive in future.

Getting subscribed for the Deutschland-Ticket, then not having any trains to ride... that could have soured millions of Germans on public transport altogether. And spoiled many traveler's plans.

Sorry for the travelers but.....

Of course this excites almost every German who is dependent on the train and of course there is scolding and discussion. But most of the Germans I know understand that everyone wants to be paid fairly. And of course the unions always exaggerate their demands at first and in the end an agreement is reached at some point.

That higher wages have to be granted with a sense of proportion is completely clear and this is how it has always been done.

It's important to stand up for it when you feel you've been treated unfairly. Even most Germans with a very good salary understand that - even if they, which is quite typical for us Germans, initially get into a rage that someone is going on strike.

And it's also in the nature of things that the industry complains. It would be strange if that wasn't the case this time. But like so many times before the whining of the passengers and the industry will fall silent again after an agreement has been reached.

EDIT: In the end the 49 Euro ticket many Germans will not use anyway - I just read the evaluation about Munich.
For example I rarely take the train and I'm not that often in the other large German cities where I would use public transport. I do have an annual pass for public transport in Munich and it costs about the same as the 49 euro ticket. So I won't switch to the 49 euro ticket for the time being. I will first observe what the Federal Government meant when they said it would be more expensive anyway.

So they cancelled the strike and yet my train to Germany tomorrow is still cancelled and buses are full and planes are $1000 or so for last minute flight -- and all those non-refundable things booked in berlin. If they strike had continued I'd be sympathetic and cope --b ut it does burn me that they can't run the trains when the strike is cancelled -- why not just revert to the original scheduling (or work all night to straighten it out)

Probably the same as when we had rail strikes in the UK cancelled at the last moment - it takes time to write crew rosters and schedule trains to be in the right place. In the UK we broadly need a week's notice to do that, depending slightly by company.

and yet my train to Germany tomorrow is still cancelled

But you are free to take any other.

I write this from the train to Berlin. I had two different trains cancelled out from under me. Went to the AMsterdam station last night and talked to the ticket clerk who assured me my train would be going this morning. Well the first train left Amsterdam but did not go to Hannover where I needed to make my connection to Berlin -- so back on line to book seats on an earlier train that went through Duisburg where I changed to the train to Berlin. so all worked out. The agent at the station platform said she expected the strike to proceed again -- it may affect local travel in Berlin but at least we will have made it there.

I did not know how they handle cancelled trains on Deutsche Bahn until this started. You don't rebook -- you reserve seats on new trains. I now hold 3 purchased pairs of seat assignments that I could not use. I am hoping they will be refunded -- but the money is not large and so it isn't a disaster if not. With my old ticket and new seat reservations I was good to go. I really didn't need the seat reservations as the train is nowhere near full -- but I didn't want to count on that for 7 hour trip.

First leg we had a compartment to ourselves; second leg I am in front of a guy who decided to use the time to call everyone he knows and bray. Win some, lose some.

I am hoping they will be refunded

Just go to the Reisezentrum in Berlin main station and demand a refund.

Got back from Frankfurt yesterday. Yes strike was cancelled but some trains still not running. I was able to get to the airport for my flight to London then my flight to Baltimore was cancelled. I think I'm staying home for awhile.