Berlin to Face 24-Hour Public Transport Strike on Monday (January 27th)
Berlin to Face 24-Hour Public Transport Strike on Monday
Berlin to Face 24-Hour Public Transport Strike on Monday, January 27th, as a result of a planned strike by employees of the public transport operator, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). The strike, which is being called by the Verdi trade union, is part of an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions. The strike will largely impact all buses, trams, and U-Bahn services across the city; this will cause significant inconvenience for commuters. The industrial action will start at 3 a.m. on January 27th and will end on 3 a.m. of Tuesday, January 28th. Services will still be disrupted thereafter because services are likely to remain irregular when the strike comes to a close.
Impact of This Public Transport Strike
Due to the strike, the public transport services of BVG, such as U-Bahn trains, trams, and most buses, will be out of service. The U-Bahn stations may remain closed during the day. However, the S-Bahn trains operated by Deutsche Bahn will be running normally. The other regional trains passing through Berlin, operated by Deutsche Bahn and other companies, will not be affected by the strike.
Most of the underground trains, trams, and buses will be closed, while some bus lines will be running with low frequencies. Passengers can check the routes that will continue to run on the BVG website or app. Bus lines 106, 114, 118, 124, 133, 161, 168, 175, 179, 204, 218, 234, 275, 316, 318, 320, 326, 334, 349, 359, 363, 380, N12, N23, N35, N39, N53, N61, N69, N84, N91, N95, and N97 will run on schedule. However, lines M36, 112, 124, 184, 744, 893, and N68 will run a reduced service and passengers should monitor these services in advance of travelling.
Alternative Arrangements
Although the strike will severely affect public transport, commuters can still travel around the city in other ways. The S-Bahn, run by Deutsche Bahn, will run as scheduled, but passengers are advised to expect possible overcrowding at peak times. Regional trains, operated by companies such as Deutsche Bahn, Ostdeutsche Eisenbahn (ODEG), and Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), are running and can be an alternative for people traveling within or through Berlin.
Commuter ferries and BVG’s Muva service, an on-demand minibus service will be running during the strike. For shortening commutes, e-scooters, bikes, and rideshare are in place, too – Voi, Lime, Bolt for e-scooters and bikes, as well as services Uber, Bolt, Free Now for ridesharing across the city. Miles and Sixt share is another useful car-sharing alternative when travel has to cover longer distances. All of these, Jelbi though, with its integration of various transport services, can be an all-in-one service for those who would like not to download several applications for different services.
For drivers, be aware that traffic congestion may increase on the streets due to the strike, so it’s a good idea to allow extra time for your journey.
Impact on Commuters and Employers
Commuters who happen to be late in their workplaces following the Public Transport Strike face many obstacles. While they will admit that each employee must get to work on time, employers should appreciate employees who are not late as a result of strikes from public transport. However, “Sorry, my train was not running this morning” is something that everyone will dislike to be considered an acceptable reason. Actually, commuters ought to plan ahead and find alternative means of transport so they don’t miss work.
The Reasons Behind this Public Transport Strike
The strike is an outcome of a dispute between the Verdi trade union and BVG concerning the working conditions and pay for BVG employees. The union is demanding that the 16,600 workers at BVG receive a €750 monthly salary raise, in addition to other benefits. Inflation and the rise in cost of living have significantly affected BVG workers, including drivers, and wages currently range from €2807 to €3011 per month. These are deemed to be some of the lowest wages among transport workers in Germany. This strike is one of the continuations of negotiation that has stalled since October 2024. BVG was unable to produce a satisfactory proposal for the first round of talks then.
Future Strikes and Negotiations
The current strike is a ‘warning strike‘. The purpose of it is to put attention on union demands and thereby exert pressure on BVG to accept them. If this fails, the strikes could then occur again later this year but maybe for more weeks. Next weeks will involve talks between the sides: next week BVG meets with Verdi again on 31st January. Further negotiations are scheduled for February, March, and April, so there is a possibility of further strikes.
Similar strikes have been experienced by Berlin commuters in the past because strikes concerning pay and working conditions occur regularly during the negotiation process between trade unions and transport companies. Therefore, there may be further disruptions to public transport in Berlin as negotiations continue; hence, commuters should stay informed about upcoming strikes and plan their journeys accordingly.
The next major disruption to the city transport system is due on Monday, January 27th – when the Berlin public transport system will come to a standstill for 24 hours. In general, most of the U-Bahn, trams, and buses will not run, but S-Bahn and regional trains will continue operating. Alternative transports, such as e-scooters, bikes, and ride-sharing services, will also be available. However, available services can expect overcrowding, and passengers should be ready for longer travel times. The Public Transport Strike has been caused by a pay and working conditions dispute between BVG and the Verdi trade union. It may be one of the several strikes if they are unable to come to an agreement. Commuters must keep themselves updated on the latest negotiations and prepare for their travels.
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