UPDATE – The effect of the strike in Germany is significant. Especially in the east and south-west of Germany, strikes impact rail operations. This has consequences for all rail freight traffic to Poland and the Czech Republic, but also to Switzerland and Italy. Mannheim is an important hub here, also for traffic to and from the Netherlands. Furthermore, due to train failures, traffic from China cannot go to Tilburg, for example.

This was explained by Jelle Rebbers, spokesperson of DB Cargo the Netherlands to Spoorpro.com. According to him, delays and cancellations of trains in Germany especially disturb the tight schedule for DB Cargo locomotives. “Normally, our locomotives continue as far as Rotterdam and then turn around and drive back to Germany. That circulation is now seriously disrupted.” Rebbers cannot say exactly how many freight trains from DB Cargo are canceled in the Netherlands. “The majority are driving, but there is a serious disruption, yes.”