Update: Severe disruptions will continue throughout December 6, 2023

Deutsche Bahn has released a service announcement saying that trains and regional transport in southern Germany will be severely disrupted over the next few days thanks to winter weather. 

Snow causes train travel disruption in southern Germany

Heavy snowfall across southern Germany over the weekend means that transportation will be disrupted until the midweek, Deutsche Bahn announced on the morning of December 4.

The rail provider said that en masse cancellations and delays mean that packed trains and further delays are expected, and encouraged travellers to postpone their journeys, specifically if they are planning to travel to or from Munich. “Only a few long-distance trains are running to and from Munich,” the company said.

Currently, there are three lines which are totally out of action, those between Munich and Salzburg, Munich and Innsbruck and Munich and Lindau / Zürich in Switzerland. These are expected to resume on December 5. 

But passengers travelling across all of southern Germany were warned that they should expect disruptions or cancellations, thanks to trees blocking the tracks and frozen overhead lines. S-Bahn transportation in the capital of Bavaria is also likely to be affected.

What to do if your DB train is cancelled because of winter weather

Deutsche Bahn has said that all passengers who have a ticket to travel in southern Germany between December 2 and December 5, 2023 can use their ticket on another journey at a later date. If postponing the journey isn’t possible, passengers can also claim a refund.

People affected by the travel chaos can call a Deutsche Bahn free-of-charge hotline (08000-996633) dedicated to the current situation to find out more personalised information about what to do. 

Runway disruptions continue at Munich Airport

While disruption continues for Deutsche Bahn passengers, Munich Airport has begun a more regular service after shutting down on December 2 thanks to heavy snowfall. Restricted services were offered on Sunday, but only on one of the airport’s two runways.

As of December 4, both runways are in operation again, but services are still restricted, with the airport cancelling just under a quarter of scheduled flights which were due to run.

"It is not yet possible to predict how the situation will develop in the coming days,” a spokesperson from Munich Airport said. Passengers flying on December 4 or 5 are advised to contact the airline they are travelling with shortly before they travel to the airport.

Thumb image credit: Peeradontax / Shutterstock.com