Decades of underinvestment in Germany’s railway infrastructure have been linked to severe travel disruptions following a heavy snowfall that has crippled parts of the country.
In Bavaria, where snow accumulation reached up to half a meter, both rail and air travel have been severely impacted.
Munich’s main airport faced a complete shutdown this morning due to freezing rain, with no flights taking off or landing.
The airport worked diligently to de-ice the runways and other operating areas, but severe restrictions on air traffic persisted. The airport’s flight schedule remains drastically reduced as a result of the extreme weather conditions.
Deutsche Bahn warns of continued train disruptions in southern Germany as snow causes widespread chaos.Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national rail operator, reported that rail traffic in southern Germany will be heavily affected until at least Wednesday evening.
The disruptions have led to numerous train cancellations and delays, with signaling systems and electronic boards frequently malfunctioning. Deutsche Bahn has advised travelers to postpone journeys to and from Munich if possible, due to expected high capacity utilization on remaining trains.
Railway and Transport Union head Martin Burkert criticized Deutsche Bahn for being ill-prepared for the harsh weather, attributing the current chaos to years of inadequate investment in rail infrastructure.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing echoed these sentiments, calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the network to address longstanding issues of neglect.
As Germany grapples with the fallout of this severe weather event, the country’s transport system highlights the urgent need for substantial improvements to cope with such disruptions in the future.