Dear Customers,

The operational situation has remained highly complicated since last week. Due to closures at the German border in the Elbe Valley with the Czech Republic, as well as at Frankfurt Oderbrücke with Poland, DB InfraGO is strictly managing transit through Germany.
 
This week, the following closures are taking place in the Elbe Valley, significantly limiting services between CZ, SK, HU, AT, the Balkans, and the North German ports, Rotterdam, and Duisburg:

• Schöna – Bad Schandau: 13 Apr – 18 May 2026, every Monday 09:10 – 18:50
• Kurort Rathen – Königstein: 17 Apr – 25 Apr 2026, daily 04:30 – 21:00
• Königstein – Bad Schandau: 17 Apr – 25 Apr 2026, Friday to Sunday 22:00 – 04:00
• Obervogelgesang – Bad Schandau: 25 Apr – 29 Apr 2026, daily 21:00 – 04:30

The German rail network is congested. As of this morning, we have had 16 trains standing idle at various locations in ports and along the routes. We are dependent on instructions from individual infrastructure managers. The circulation of train sets and locomotives is significantly disrupted. Delays and irregularities are increasing across both international services and domestic German operations, and we are forced to reduce the number of connections.

Hamburg: HPA controls train entry.

Bremerhaven: Bremenports controls train entry.

Wilhelmshaven: Import delays of up to 3 days.

Rotterdam / Duisburg: Export delays of up to 3 days due to complicated transit through Germany.

Gdańsk: Services are currently running with delays of up to 3 days. The backlog persists mainly due to the closure between Česká Třebová and Havířov. Due to severely disrupted circulation, we are forced to cancel one pair of trains on 20/04–21/04/2026. Imports are fully booked up to and including 30/04/2026.

For inquiries regarding specific shipments, please contact our customer service.

METRANS Team