Travellers in Germany are set to face more disruption on the railways due to a 50-hour strike from Sunday (14 May) to Tuesday (16 May) by the EVG rail and transport union.
EVG, which represents 50 rail companies, is calling the walkout from 10pm local time on Sunday to midnight on Tuesday as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.
The labour action marks the third nationwide strike this year, following walkouts in March and April, after talks with state-owned Deutsche Bahn and other rail operators broke down.
“Most employers hesitate and procrastinate in the second round of negotiations… Since there is little movement at the negotiating tables, there will be another strike,” said EVG’s Cosima Ingenschay.
Deutsche Bahn hit back, with executive board member Martin Seiler labelling the strike “insane” and “completely unreasonable”.
“Instead of looking for compromises, the EVG wants to paralyse the country for an unbelievable 50 hours. This is like a full strike without a ballot. Millions of travellers are not getting where they want to go, to school, to work, to their loved ones,” he said in a statement.
The rail operator warned the strike will have a “massive impact” on all German rail operations, including long-distance passenger traffic and pan-European freight traffic. However, long-distance tickets affected by the strike can now be “used flexibility” and seat reservations can be cancelled free of charge.