Berlin, 7 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Travellers and commuters on Germany's rail network will be forced to make alternative travel plans on Friday, as the fourth strike at Deutsche Bahn this year comes into force.

The train drivers' union GDL has called on its members to walk off the job Thursday evening at 10:00 pm (2100 GMT). The strike on Germany's national rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) passenger services will end 24 hours later, on Friday evening at 10:00 pm.

Disruptions are expected even before the strike begins, and are expected to have knock-on effects afterwards. An emergency timetable with greatly reduced services will apply during the strike.

Employees of Deutsche Bahn, including the S-Bahn suburban rail companies in Berlin and Hamburg as well as the railway companies Transdev, AKN and City-Bahn Chemnitz and other companies have been called out on strike.

The freight transport strike will begin at 6:00 pm on Thursday evening.

The German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) wants to increase the pressure in the current collective bargaining round. The union is demanding a reduction in working hours for shift workers.

"The employers are stonewalling everywhere and are not prepared to give the employees the appreciation and recognition they deserve for the work they have done," criticized the union.

However, passengers can at least breathe a sigh of relief in one respect: the union has said there will be no further strikes through the busy public holiday period.

"We will now carry out this strike action on Thursday and Friday, and it will be the last one for this year," said GDL boss Claus Weselsky on Wednesday evening.

"This will be followed by the ballot and the count on December 19." He promised no further industrial action until after the first week of January.

Deutsche Bahn criticized the GDL for spoiling the second Advent weekend for millions of uninvolved people. A strike so soon after the onset of winter and so close to the timetable change was irresponsible and selfish, criticized Martin Seiler, member of the Deutsche Bahn Executive Board for Human Resources.

"Instead of negotiating and facing up to reality, the train drivers' union is going on strike for unrealizable demands. This is absolutely unnecessary," he said.

The GDL last called a strike at Deutsche Bahn on November 15 and 16.

In March and April, the larger railway and transport union (EVG) called one-day strikes. A ballot on indefinite strikes is already underway in the unusually tough collective bargaining round for train drivers.

Photo: MIA archive