Storm Aftermath Causes Chaos in German Long-Distance Train Travel
Get ready for a bumpy ride! 🚃
Continued interruptions in rail transportation by distance moved forward.
Long-distance trains in Germany are still feeling the brunt of last night's storm, causing disruptions and delays on several key routes. On June 27, 2025, Deutsche Bahn is struggling to maintain their usual service, especially on ICE connections from Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig/Halle, Southern Germany and Austria, as well as on the EC line between Hamburg and Prague.
The root cause? Trees falling onto tracks. Thankfully, it won't take long to clear things up – the rail company promises the tracks will be fully operational by midday. ⌛️
The east-west connection between Hamburg and Hannover is experiencing a different issue – an overhead line damaged by the storm. Train cancellations and delays are inevitable, and this especially affects connections from Bonn/Cologne/Düsseldorf to Berlin. Be prepared, travelers, as trains between Wolfsburg and the capital are delayed by around 30 minutes, and some services may be completely canceled. ICE connections from Berlin to France are also affected, so keep an eye on those updates. 🚧
IC trains between Amsterdam and Berlin have been temporarily halted between Hannover and Berlin, with no clear resolution yet. 🤷♂️
So, what's the overall situation? After last night's storm, many trains on the German network are experiencing delays due to temporary speed restrictions caused by track or operational issues. The ongoing infrastructure impacts and engineering works slated through July 2025 may also cause additional disruptions.
Germany’s rail infrastructure has been under strain from aging tracks and climate-related damage, leading to persistent punctuality problems, with only about 72% of trains arriving within 10 minutes of scheduled time as of mid-2025[2][4]. To counteract this, Deutsche Bahn has been offering discounted tickets throughout June to encourage ridership despite the service disruptions[5].
In short, while long-distance train travel in Germany is operational, storm-related damage has imposed speed restrictions and delays across many routes, including key ICE and EC connections. Passengers should expect delays and check updated schedules before traveling. Now, grab a good book and hunker down for a longer journey than normal – you won’t regret it! 📖 🚂
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
[1] The Local
[2] BBC News
[3] Trainline
[4] Deutsche Bahn
[5] Deutsche Bahn's Summer Promotion
- The storm's aftermath has resulted in financial losses for Deutsche Bahn, as they struggle to maintain service and offer discounted tickets.
- Public-transit users should prepare for delays in long-distance train travel, as weather conditions have affected transportation, particularly the ICE connections across Germany, Austria, and Europe.
- Despite the challenges faced by the industry, it's essential that finance continues to support the maintenance and modernization of Germany's aging rail infrastructure to provide reliable and efficient public-transit options.
