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Germany’s transport networks collapse under severe winter storm chaos

A brutal winter storm has paralyzed northern Germany, leaving thousands stranded. Will the chaos ease—or worsen in the coming hours?

In this image there is a bus on a road, in the background there are buildings and tree and poles.
In this image there is a bus on a road, in the background there are buildings and tree and poles.

Public transport in the north severely disrupted - Germany’s transport networks collapse under severe winter storm chaos

Severe winter weather has brought northern Germany to a standstill. Freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall are causing widespread chaos on roads and railways. Many passengers face long delays or cancelled journeys as conditions worsen.

Bus services in Hamburg restarted early on Tuesday after an overnight halt. However, Hanover and Kiel remain without any bus connections due to icy roads. Local transport operators, including Kiel’s KVG and Hanover’s Üstra, warned that dangerous conditions could last for hours.

Rail travel has also been hit hard. Deutsche Bahn and Metronom reported major disruptions across long-distance and regional routes. Affected lines include ICE services between Hamburg and Berlin, Cologne and Berlin, as well as connections from Oldenburg to Karlsruhe via Bremen, Hanover, and Kassel. Regional trains are suffering similar delays and cancellations, leaving many stranded. Authorities have urged passengers to check for updates before travelling. With no immediate improvement in sight, transport networks are struggling to cope with the extreme weather.

The severe conditions show no sign of easing soon. Rail and bus operators continue to warn of ongoing delays and cancellations. Travellers are advised to plan extra time or postpone non-essential journeys until conditions improve.

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