Berlin, January 12 – Train services across Germany, particularly in the northern regions, continue to experience significant disruptions in the aftermath of Winter Storm ‘Elli’. While Deutsche Bahn (DB) announced that main long-distance routes are now operational, a reduced schedule and potential cancellations remain, impacting travel to and from Berlin.
Long-Distance Services Resume with Limitations
According to Deutsche Bahn, long-distance services have resumed on “all main routes” as of Monday morning, January 11. However, these services are operating with a reduced schedule, and further cancellations are still possible. The railway company indicated that services to Denmark and the Netherlands, as well as to coastal areas, were expected to resume during Monday afternoon.
Evelyn Palla, a board member of Deutsche Bahn, defended the company’s crisis management, emphasizing that the safety of passengers and employees was the “highest priority.” She described the situation as “very dynamic,” with extensive snowdrifts repeatedly blocking cleared sections of tracks since Friday.
Regional and Local Services Severely Affected
The storm’s impact is particularly pronounced in regional and local transport, especially in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, where several routes remain impassable. Deutsche Bahn expects a gradual increase in services in these areas only after ongoing clearing operations are completed later today. The primary causes of the disruptions are cited as snowdrifts on recently cleared tracks and frozen or blocked points.
Politicians have voiced criticism regarding the handling of the situation. Christoph Ploß, a CDU member of parliament, stated, “Deutsche Bahn must review this disaster and ensure that the entire train service does not come to a standstill during the next winter weather.” Matthias Gastel, a Green Party railway expert, added that the federal government would need to critically discuss Deutsche Bahn’s response to the winter conditions with the company itself.
Roads and Avalanche Risk
On the roads, there were reports of black ice-related accidents overnight, but the overall situation remained relatively calm. The German Weather Service (DWD) had lifted all severe weather warnings for heavy snowfall by Saturday evening. However, the DWD warns that snow could turn into freezing rain on cold surfaces overnight into Monday, leading to widespread black ice across large parts of the country by Monday.
Beyond secured routes, there is an increased risk of avalanches in the Alps following the snowfall. Level four (out of five) avalanche warnings were issued for some regions on Monday.
Outlook for Berlin and Beyond
While specific details for Berlin were not extensively provided in the raw data, the general disruptions in long-distance traffic and the ongoing weather challenges suggest that travelers to and from the capital should anticipate potential delays and cancellations. The DWD’s forecast of freezing rain on Monday indicates further potential for hazardous conditions across Germany, which could impact transportation networks, including those serving Berlin.
Travelers are advised to check the latest information from Deutsche Bahn and local transport authorities before embarking on their journeys.
