Munich, February 23 – Passengers in Munich and the surrounding region face significant travel disruptions as major track work at Geltendorf station has brought train traffic to a standstill. From February 23 until March 4, four new points are being installed, leading to widespread cancellations and diversions for long-distance, regional, and S-Bahn services.
Extensive Closures at Geltendorf Station
The Bahnhof Geltendorf, a crucial railway hub west of Munich in the Upper Bavarian district of Landsberg am Lech, will be completely closed during this period. This affects numerous train connections between Munich and the Allgäu, including international Eurocity-Express trains to Zurich, several regional lines, and the S4 S-Bahn line.
Impact on Long-Distance and Regional Services
Eurocity-Express trains connecting Munich and Zurich will terminate in Lindau-Reutin. Stops in Munich, Buchloe, and Memmingen will be omitted, with replacement buses operating between these stations. Furthermore, the overhead line to Kaufering has been switched off, limiting services to diesel trains only.
Regional services are also heavily impacted:
- RB74: Operations between Munich and Geltendorf are canceled.
- RE70: No service between Fürstenfeldbruck and Geltendorf.
- RE72 and RE96 (Arverio): Canceled between Buchloe and Munich.
Express buses are being deployed to bridge these gaps, with travel times estimated at around 30 minutes for some routes. Specifically, express buses will run between Munich Hauptbahnhof and Buchloe, and between Munich-Pasing and Geltendorf.
BRB and S-Bahn Services Affected
The BRB line RB68 (Munich-Kaufbeuren-Füssen) will terminate in Geltendorf. Shuttle trains will operate hourly between Geltendorf and Buchloe, stopping in Kaufering, from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM. For the RB67 line (Augsburg-Schongau), passengers will need to transfer to buses between Geltendorf and Schondorf. On February 28 and March 1, bus transfers will also be required between Geltendorf and Walleshausen.
The S4 S-Bahn line will turn around at Grafrath, with buses running every 20 to 40 minutes between Grafrath and Geltendorf.
Deutsche Bahn Advises Passengers to Check Connections
The Deutsche Bahn has advised all passengers to check their connections before departure using the DB Navigator app. For Arverio and BRB services, passengers should consult their respective websites. The railway company emphasized that the installation of new points is “a first important step towards stabilizing operations.”
Since February 7, speed restrictions have been in place on the Munich-Buchloe route due to worn rails, with a current speed limit of 20 km/h in Geltendorf. Following the completion of the point installation, regular speeds are expected to resume. Further track renovations are planned throughout the year to address other slow sections.
The disruptions are expected to cause significant inconvenience for daily commuters and travelers planning journeys to southern Germany and Switzerland during this period. Passengers are urged to plan their trips well in advance and allow for extended travel times.
