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Operational Situation in Northern Europe – Update No. 43

Dear Customers,

Although we adjusted the terminal schedule during the public holiday, the operational situation remains very complicated following the weekend. Closures continue along the German-Czech and German-Polish borders. We are facing significant restrictions from DB InfraGO and port infrastructure operators on all routes. We currently have 12 export trains from all international and domestic services stopped outside Hamburg, and another 3 empty trains are blocked in Bremerhaven. We are entirely dependent on instructions from the port authorities, particularly the HPA. The rotation of trains and locomotives cannot be planned at this time. We are forced to cancel some connections and reschedule planned shipments.
 
The following closures are taking place this week in the Elbe Valley, significantly limiting service between the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, the Balkans, and ports in northern Germany, Rotterdam, and Duisburg.
 

  • Schöna – Bad Schandau from 13 April through the end of the year every Monday from 9:10 a.m. to 6:50 p.m.
  • Königstein – Kurort Rathen 29 April – 8 May 2026 single-track operation only, daily from 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • Bad Schandau – Obervogelgesang 8 May – 11 May 2026 daily from 9:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

Hamburg: The HPA is managing train arrivals. At the moment, entering the port is basically impossible due to the railway’s capacity being fully utilised. Some port terminals are operating with delays. Since yesterday, Burchardkai terminal has been experiencing power outages and issues with the power supply to signals and switches. A damaged crane at Eurogate terminal remains out of service indefinitely; due to train length restrictions, trains must continue to be split into 600-metre sections. Due to necessary maintenance on 7 and 12 May 2026, this will even be reduced to 500 metres.

Bremerhaven: BremenPorts is managing train arrivals.

Wilhelmshaven: Import delays of up to 4 days.

Rotterdam / Duisburg: Export delays of approximately 15 hours due to complicated transit through Germany.

Gdańsk: Train operations according to the standard schedule. Imports are fully booked until 16 May 2026.

Please direct any questions regarding specific shipments to our Customer Service.

METRANS Team