Trains resuming service from Munich to Upper Bavaria this week. - Trains resuming service from Munich to Oberland Starting This Week.
The Munich to Holzkirchen railway line, a vital artery for commuters, students, and tourists in Upper Bavaria, has been closed since late June 2025 due to significant damage to multiple track switches at the Deisenhofen station. This unexpected disruption has impacted various networks, including BRB’s Oberland and Chiemgau-Inntal networks, the S-Bahn München line S3, and leisure travelers bound for the Alps.
The discovery of the damage during a technical inspection prompted the immediate suspension of all train services between Munich Central Station and Holzkirchen. In response, temporary bus replacement services have been deployed between Giesing and Holzkirchen, and trains on various RB lines are terminating early in Holzkirchen before continuing to their respective branches via alternate routes.
However, the repair of the damaged switches is ongoing, with no official estimate on when the railway will be fully operational again. Some reports suggest that train service may potentially resume as early as with the beginning of the summer holidays in August 2025, but this is not confirmed and remains tentative depending on repair progress.
Travelers are advised to check schedules frequently and make use of the replacement bus services in the meantime. Initially, the hastily organized large-capacity taxis and buses did not operate on a fixed schedule, causing difficulties for students and commuters. However, since July 10, the S3 line has been operating between Giesing and Deisenhofen, providing some relief.
In an effort to restore train service as quickly as possible, the Munich to Holzkirchen line is being serviced with temporary solutions such as temporarily replacing damaged switches with straight tracks. Meanwhile, the railway's sleeper and switch factory is accelerating production to replace the damaged switches with new ones.
The closure of the line has caused frustration for many, and criticism has been directed at the replacement bus service and the response from Bavarian Minister of Transport Christian Bernreiter (CSU) and Munich County. The railway is working to ensure regular service resumes on the Munich to Holzkirchen line this week, with only a few connections being offered on Thursday due to logistical challenges in repositioning vehicles and personnel.
Train service on the Munich to Holzkirchen line is expected to resume this week, with S-Bahn services resuming on Thursday and Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) services resuming on Friday. While the resumption of full service on the Munich to Holzkirchen line is expected on Friday, travelers are encouraged to continue checking schedules for updates.
- The Commission, recognizing the financial implications of the transport disruption caused by the Munich to Holzkirchen railway line closure, has also examined the possibility of introducing a new system of compensation for the increased costs of public-transit and transportation within Upper Bavaria, considering its impact on industry and the local economy.
- As the railway's sleeper and switch factory works to increase production of replacement switches, some industry experts speculate that this incident may catalyze the adoption of a modern, more robust transportation system for public-transit networks like the S-Bahn München line S3, potentially diminishing future disruptions and improving overall service efficiency.
