Railway strike leads to problems in German harbours

The railway strike of the Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer (GDL) also affects the port of transshipment in Germany. As of Monday, 3 p.m., the freight trains of DB Schenker Rail have only limited travel. The regular passenger transport has been affected by the strike since Tuesday morning at 2 a.m.. The locomotive drivers' strike is supposed to last until Sunday. A test of patience for commuters, travellers and freight forwarders.

High follow-up costs
It is the longest strike in the history of the German railway. For one, it of course affects the railway passengers, but also freight traffic and with that, the harbour is also affected. The German economy is threatened by high follow-up costs, many experts are certain.

Hamburg: consequences are kept within limits
In the Hamburg harbour, it is assumed that the effects of the strike will be limited. Past experiences from previous strikes at Germany's largest shipping hub have shown this. In agreement with the customers, DB Schenker Rail is planning to keep at least half of the freight trains on the rails, say the Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA).

Delays in goods traffic from Scandinavia
People at the harbours in Lübeck and Brunsbüttel are assuming that especially goods traffic from Scandinavia will suffer delays and congestion. According to information from the operating companies, it is currently unclear how many trains will actually be cancelled.

Roads do not make for an alternative
For the harbour in the north, travelling by road is not a real alternative. According to Logistikverband, only a fraction of the goods can be transported further by truck.