Public Transport Strike Set for Late February; Buses and U-Bahns Will Not Run
Ver.di union has called a 48-hour strike on February 27–28, 2026, affecting all German public transport. U-Bahns, trams and buses will not run or run on limited emergency schedules; S-Bahn and long-distance trains continue normally.
Ver.di has called on public transport employees across Germany to strike on February 27 and 28, 2026, with public transport disrupted across all 16 federal states as public transport employees take part in a 48-hour strike.
What Will and Won't Run
U-Bahns, trams and buses will not run or only run on a limited emergency timetable from the early hours into Friday, during Friday and Saturday. Normal services will resume in the early hours of Sunday. Since they are run by Deutsche Bahn, S-Bahn services, regional trains and long-distance trains will all still run as normal on Friday and Saturday.
This is important: the strike does not affect Deutsche Bahn's train services (S-Bahn, regional, and long-distance ICE trains), only local buses, U-Bahns (subway), and trams (Straßenbahn). Each city's emergency schedule will vary, so plan accordingly.
For Expats and Newcomers
If you rely on local public transport for commuting to work or university, you'll need alternative plans for February 27–28. Walking, cycling, or ride-sharing services (Uber, Bolt, local taxi apps) may be overloaded during the strike. If you're planning weekend travel by train across Germany, you can still travel normally—the strike affects only municipal buses and trams, not Bahn services. Check your local transport authority's website (BVG in Berlin, MVG in Munich, etc.) for their emergency timetable as the date approaches.
Sources
Independent app, not a government. General information, not advice. The official source:
