European Railroad Discussion > Deutsche Bahn Engineers on Strike?

Was 6 May a one-day strike?   Or are the train drivers staying out?

What is the root cause for strike? (not reading German papers)

 

I believe they are striking for a week. Pay and conditions are the stated reasons behind it.

Interesting, but what is the real reason, the root cause?

I've learned that DB has lost some of its edge on long distance travel, younger generation flocking into buses. Now this is showing severely in usage figures too (according to some train magazines). This lead to thinking the typical concequences: when industry is in decline, and management tries to find ways to recover, workers go on strike because they feel they are loosing. With some intermediate phases this often seems to lead the end result that as work conditions can not be altered and the whole business is pushed from the cliff. 

I think this is related to what is called technological "creative destruction" (correct if I'm wrong): innovative ideas coming into reality (like buses offering better productivity than trains) old and often rigid structures cause the old operating environments to decline (read: buses win over trains).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_destruction

OK, this is just what I'm reading, the DB has and will have substantial amount of passenger traffic now and in the future.

My question to German railfans / those working for DB on this forum: is the change to buses within younger generation really happening? 

---

It's generally not about money but rather about control:  who gets to represent certain classifications of workers.

I find most German trains I have taken to be quite full....including First Class. They are generally much faster, more comfortable and I would think more efficient than any bus ever could be. As for the strikers, I hope they all enjoying screwing and inconveniencing their passengers (who by the way pay their salaries). The Euro Zone economy still isn't great. I'm sure there are many would would welcome the chance to have the jobs of those who are so dissatisfied.  I'm there in two weeks. Hope this is it for now. Flights options within Europe are quite limited due to the extensive and fast rail networks.

I wish you great trip in Germany! Plese post some pics from there here on TOC forum.

Everyone from U.S. listen to what anderson109 says: "Flights options within Europe are quite limited due to the extensive and fast rail networks." Hope the run down passenger rail will eventually recover one day is U.S. too.  ;) 

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I find most German trains I have taken to be quite
> full....including First Class. They are generally
> much faster, more comfortable and I would think
> more efficient than any bus ever could be. As for
> the strikers, I hope they all enjoying screwing
> and inconveniencing their passengers (who by the
> way pay their salaries). The Euro Zone economy
> still isn't great. I'm sure there are many would
> would welcome the chance to have the jobs of those
> who are so dissatisfied.  I'm there in two weeks.
> Hope this is it for now. Flights options within
> Europe are quite limited due to the extensive and
> fast rail networks.

I was in Germany today. Speculation is that rail service will be back to normal by Monday. 

McKey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I think this is related to what is called
> technological "creative destruction" (correct if
> I'm wrong): innovative ideas coming into reality
> (like buses offering better productivity than
> trains) old and often rigid structures cause the
> old operating environments to decline (read: buses
> win over trains).


How exactly does a bus offer more productivity than a train???

Ever try to read on a bus??  Any bus??

I think John means the productivity of the bus operator, not the passenger.