German rail service: Completely unreliable

German radio reports, locals in Germany are now learning on how to adjust transportation needs around frequent rail and air strikes.

Chaos is reported from German autobahns this morning, since rail service cancelled 65% of its schedule.

Today, Germany’s national railroad (DB) adjusted it’s schedules as GDL strikes from Berlin to Bonn. The second phase of Germany’s latest rail strike has begun, with passenger services bracing for severe cuts through Sunday. Business groups claim the strike could cost the economy half a billion euros.

Deutsche Bahn has released its strike schedule, planning to run about one-third of its long-distance services and 15 to 60 percent of local trains, depending on the region.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on DB and the GDL union to make every effort to find a quick solution, saying mediation represents a viable course that would also keep her from having to intervene directly.

The 20,000-member GDL, blames DB for the strike, the eighth since last summer.

The stoppages have cost DB – which employs nearly 200,000 people in Germany and transports about 5.5 million people daily – 200 million euros ($222 million).

Business groups estimnate cost the German economy 100 million euros a day. According to the Federation of German Industry, the strike could especially affect the steel, chemicals and auto sectors.
“All in all, we’re expecting the strike to cost half a billion euros,”

Germans have witnessed several labor disputes recently – notably repeated strikes by pilots of its flagship carrier, Lufthansa.

Negotiations at Deutsche Post have also produced walkouts and stoppages.