German rail strikes can go ahead, court rules

The labour court in the state of Hesse ruled against issuing an injunction, upholding a lower court's decision. The GDL train drivers' union plans to strike from the early hours of Wednesday until Friday evening, forcing the national rail operator to run only stripped back emergency timetables. Cargo train drivers are also striking from Tuesday evening until Friday.

A multi-day strike by German train drivers can go ahead as planned this week, a court ruled on Tuesday, dashing a last-ditch attempt by Deutsche Bahn to prevent the walkout that will severely disrupt rail travel across the country. The labour court in the state of Hesse ruled against issuing an injunction, upholding a lower court's decision.

The GDL train drivers' union plans to strike from the early hours of Wednesday until Friday evening, forcing the national rail operator to run only stripped back emergency timetables. Cargo train drivers are also striking from Tuesday evening until Friday.