Bus and ferry passengers across large parts of Saxony face major disruption from Wednesday this week as a Verdi warning strike hits local transport in the state.
People living or travelling in the German state of Saxony may need to rethink their plans this week.
The Verdi trade union is staging a three‑day warning strike across much of the state’s regional public transport network, leading to widespread cancellations and reduced services. The strike kicked off early on Wednesday, April 15th and is set to last until Saturday, April 18th.
Travellers in the eastern state are strongly advised to check individual operators’ websites before setting off.
The action mainly affects regional bus operators and a small number of ferries, while many tram and rail services in larger cities should continue to operate as normal.
The strike is linked to an ongoing wage dispute between Verdi and the Local Transport Employers’ Association (AVN Saxony).
What the strikes mean for passengers
The warning strike is planned to span from 3 am on Wednesday until early Saturday morning.
Numerous districts are affected, including: Mittelsachsen, Erzgebirge, Meißen, Bautzen, Görlitz, Zwickau and Sächsische Schweiz–Osterzgebirge, as well as the cities of Dresden and Chemnitz.
The main municipal transport operators are not expected to strike in major cities such as Leipzig, Dresden, Zwickau and Chemnitz.
In Dresden, the impact is likely to be limited but noticeable. Bus routes and Elbe ferries operated by Dresdner Verkehrsservicegesellschaft (DVS) are affected, while trams, DVB buses, S‑Bahn, regional trains, the funicular and suspension railway should continue to run normally.
Elsewhere, disruption is more severe. Meißen’s public transport operator (VGM) anticipates widespread cancellations, with just 40 percent of normally scheduled trips expected to run.
In the Pirna and Osterzgebirge areas, operator RVSOE reports major cancellations across regional and city buses, ferries and the Kirnitzschtalbahn, with only selected lines running on emergency timetables.
In Görlitz, local operator GVB is running a temporary substitute timetable, with services operating only until the evening of April 15th.
Meanwhile DB Regio Bus Ost reports that many routes will be cancelled with only sub-contracted services expected to run.
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Passengers in Hoyerswerda are particularly affected: City bus lines 1–5 are completely suspended, with no replacement services available.
As is generally the case in Germany when public transport warning strikes take place, Deutsche Bahn rail services are not affected.
Why the strikes are happening
The strikes stem from stalled wage negotiations between the Verdi trade union and the Local Transport Employers’ Association (AVN Saxony). Talks have been ongoing since January but have so far failed to produce an agreement.
On its website, Verdi claims that employers have not yet made concrete offers on key demands, which include higher wages, more holiday entitlement and the introduction of a five‑day working week for shift workers.
The next negotiation date is set for May 12th, meaning further industrial action cannot be ruled out.
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