Persisting interruptions and shutdowns along the Rhine River

Construction work leading to track closure left hundreds of travelers stranded in Freiburg over the weekend, but Deutsche Bahn has reported that train traffic is now operational once more.

, and Administrator

2025 September 14 . 10:39 AM

2 min read

Continued Disruptions and Halted Navigation on the Rhine River

Persisting interruptions and shutdowns along the Rhine River

In a series of unexpected events, hundreds of passengers found themselves stranded at Freiburg Hauptbahnhof as the Rhine Valley Railway between Freiburg and Basel was closed due to ongoing construction work. The closure, which was not fully completed on time, resulted in delays, cancellations, and premature endings of many ICE or EC long-distance connections to or from Switzerland.

Deutsche Bahn (DB), the company responsible for the expansion of the Rhine Valley Railway, reported the disruptions and urged travelers to inform themselves in good time via the information media. The route, one of the most important North-South axes in the European railway network, carries a high volume of freight, long-distance, and regional trains, making the closure particularly impactful.

The Rhine Valley Railway is currently being expanded by DB at a cost of billions. Construction work in the area has now been completed, but the cost of the project is reported to be in the billions. The expansion aims to improve the efficiency and capacity of the railway, making it a crucial part of the European railway network.

DB service staff, the Technical Relief Agency (THW), and the rescue service were deployed to distribute travelers to replacement buses, putting rail travelers in Baden-Württemberg to a long test of patience on Sunday. However, train services are now running again, as reported by Deutsche Bahn.

Train services will be gradually restored on Monday morning, according to a DB spokesperson. More than 300 freight, long-distance, and regional trains use the Rhine Valley Railway daily, and the restoration of services is expected to ease the travel disruptions caused by the closure.

Despite the challenges faced, Deutsche Bahn remains committed to completing the expansion of the Rhine Valley Railway, aiming to improve the efficiency and capacity of the railway and strengthen its role as a crucial part of the European railway network.