Munich Commuters Face Significant Delays as Rail Services Between Starnberg and Munich Halted for Two Weeks
Munich, June 3rd – Commuters traveling by train from Starnberg, Weilheim, or Garmisch to Munich are facing substantial disruptions and extended travel times starting this week. For two weeks, from June 1st to June 15th, all regional train services between Starnberg and Munich have been canceled. Replacement bus services have been introduced, but these are expected to lengthen journey times by up to an hour.
Extensive Rail Closures and Replacement Services
The affected route is a critical artery for thousands of daily commuters. Instead of direct train connections, passengers are now reliant on buses operating between Pasing and Harthaus or Gauting. This change significantly impacts travel schedules, with some journeys taking nearly an hour longer than usual.
Furthermore, the disruption extends to the S-Bahn network. During the first two weeks of June, depending on the day, no trains will run towards Munich from either Garmisch or Weilheim. The S6 line will only operate between Tutzing and Gauting for certain periods.
Criticism from Passenger Associations
The passenger association Pro Bahn in Upper Bavaria has sharply criticized the extensive closures. Norbert Moy, a spokesperson for Pro Bahn, stated that an additional two hours of travel time is unacceptable for commuters. While acknowledging the necessity of infrastructure improvements by DB Infra Go, Moy emphasized that such construction projects should ultimately encourage more people to use the train, rather than deter them.
Construction Work at Munich Westkreuz
The closure of the S6 line between Starnberg and Munich is attributed to ongoing S-Bahn construction work at the Munich Westkreuz and the development of a new bridge over Bodenseestraße. This is not the only planned disruption, as further closures are anticipated in August and autumn.
Impact on the Main Line (Stammstrecke)
The construction activities at Westkreuz are also affecting Munich’s main S-Bahn line (Stammstrecke). During the weekend of June 12th to 15th, from Friday evening (10:15 PM) to Monday morning (4:00 AM), only the S1, S2, S3, and S5 lines will operate regularly on the main line. Even these lines will experience further restrictions, such as replacement services for the S2 between Ostbahnhof and Markt Schwaben. Additionally, all trains between Trudering and Ostbahnhof will be canceled.
Another significant disruption is scheduled for the weekend of June 20th/21st. From 4:00 AM to 4:00 PM, only the S7 and S8 lines will run as usual on the main line, with the S1 also operating from/to Hauptbahnhof. All other lines will terminate early or begin their journeys later. Passengers are strongly advised to check their connections using the online timetable information provided by Deutsche Bahn.
Recommendations for Commuters
Given the widespread disruptions, commuters are urged to plan their journeys well in advance and to consult the official S-Bahn Munich website for updated line maps and construction overviews. The railway company recommends checking online travel planners for specific connection details.
This article was first published on BR24 on May 31st, 2026, and has been updated due to the ongoing relevance of the topic.
