Operational Situation on the German Railway Infrastructure – Update No.1

Dear Customers,

With mention to our Newsletter No. 114/2025 from 23/10/2025, we bring you further news on the situation regarding the German infrastructure.

On Sunday, 26/10/2025, a complete railway lockout began in the Elbe Valley, causing trains to be rerouted. The capacity of these routes has been exceeded and traffic is completely blocked. Trains are being diverted on detours in both export and import directions. Traffic is controlled by the infrastructure manager DB InfraGO, and without its permission, trains cannot proceed to their destinations or even enter these sections of overloaded infrastructure.

Another complication is the deficiency of capacity of locomotive drivers and the overall shortage of locomotives, which are blocked on parked trains and are so unavailable for further service. In the cross-border section between Cheb – Hof, only diesel traction is possible, and stations are blocked by trains waiting to control from electrical to diesel traction and vice versa.

Based on all the facts, delays of 24–36 hours must be expected on routes to northern ports in both directions.

We are very sorry that we do not have affirmative news for you. We proceed to monitor the situation and will keep you informed of any further changes.

Please contact our client Service with circumstantial questions about your shipments.

METRANS Team