Public-transport users in Germany’s financial hub struggled to reach offices on 19 February as Verdi called a 24-hour walk-out at city operator VGF, shutting all nine U-Bahn lines and ten tram routes. The strike is part of the union’s nationwide campaign for better working conditions under the regional collective agreement TV-N Hessen.
While S-Bahn commuter trains and regional rail services continued, the shutdown of Frankfurt’s urban rail backbone forced tens of thousands of commuters onto congested roads and led many firms in the banking district to switch meetings online. Hotels reported a spike in short-notice cancellations of day-trip conferences.
![Frankfurt U-Bahn and tram network paralysed by Verdi one-day strike]()
For international visitors juggling sudden itinerary changes, VisaHQ can quickly secure the necessary German visas or other travel documents online, providing real-time status updates and expert support so that travelers can adapt plans smoothly when strikes erupt. Check the dedicated Germany page for details: https://www.visahq.com/germany/
Verdi warns that further strikes are possible if employers do not present an improved offer on duty rosters and weekend premiums. The union is coordinating actions across multiple states to increase leverage ahead of parallel talks in Berlin and Munich.
For mobility managers the message is clear: build resilience into travel policies by allowing taxi re-imbursement or remote-work options when urban transport is hit. International assignees arriving at Frankfurt Airport should be briefed to use regional trains rather than the non-running U-Bahn to reach the city centre.
While S-Bahn commuter trains and regional rail services continued, the shutdown of Frankfurt’s urban rail backbone forced tens of thousands of commuters onto congested roads and led many firms in the banking district to switch meetings online. Hotels reported a spike in short-notice cancellations of day-trip conferences.
For international visitors juggling sudden itinerary changes, VisaHQ can quickly secure the necessary German visas or other travel documents online, providing real-time status updates and expert support so that travelers can adapt plans smoothly when strikes erupt. Check the dedicated Germany page for details: https://www.visahq.com/germany/
Verdi warns that further strikes are possible if employers do not present an improved offer on duty rosters and weekend premiums. The union is coordinating actions across multiple states to increase leverage ahead of parallel talks in Berlin and Munich.
For mobility managers the message is clear: build resilience into travel policies by allowing taxi re-imbursement or remote-work options when urban transport is hit. International assignees arriving at Frankfurt Airport should be briefed to use regional trains rather than the non-running U-Bahn to reach the city centre.
