German rail operator draws up emergency plan for 24-hr strike

7/12/2023 18:44

        German rail operator Deutsche Bahn intends to keep around 20% of its long-distance services running during a 24-hour-long strike that is set to begin on Thursday evening, a spokesperson said.
        
        The strike by Germany's GDL train drivers' union will start at 6 pm (1700 GMT) for freight traffic and at 10 pm for passenger trains, ending on Friday at 10 pm, the union said on Wednesday.
        
        Deutsche Bahn's spokesperson said, "We are in the process of drawing up an emergency plan," adding however that the rail operator will not be able to accommodate everyone who wanted to travel on its trains as a result of the reduced capacity.
        
        The spokesperson added, already purchased tickets for rides affected by the strike can still be used for travel on Thursday before the strike begins and after its end, during the weekend or at a later point in time.