BERLIN -- German commuters faced chaos on Wednesday as the was hit with a three-day national rail strike, adding to travel disruption in Europe鈥檚 biggest economy where protesting farmers continued to block roads and highways.
Both cargo and passenger trains were affected by the rail strike which led the main rail operator to cancel thousands of trains, a press statement by DB said Wednesday.
DB said that some 80 per cent of long-distance services will be cancelled, while regional lines will be affected to varying extents. During the strike which will last until Friday, rail services will run on a heavily reduced emergency timetable.
鈥淭he strike by the train drivers鈥� union GDL has had a massive impact on train services in Germany,鈥� DB spokeswoman Anja Broeker said in a video message posted on DB鈥檚 website Tuesday night. 鈥淲e regret the restrictions and hope that many people who were unable to reschedule their journey will get to their destination.鈥�
DB said that strike action would impact the travel plans of millions of commuters and urged people to postpone or cancel all non-essential travel.
It is the third and largest strike by the drivers since their union took up negotiations with DB and other carriers in November last year. Germany鈥檚 GDL union is demanding a reduction in working hours from 38 to 35 hours per week for shift workers, in addition to a pay increase of $606.62 (555 Euros) per month and a one-off inflation compensation bonus of 3,000 euros.
Rail operator DB has offered flexibility on working hours, however refused to reduce working hours without a pay cut.
The nationwide rail strikes come as German farmers vowed to ramp up their nationwide protests against the government鈥檚 planned cuts to fuel subsidies.
Since the start of the week, farmers have been blocking numerous roads and highway entrances across the country with their tractors and have also held rallies in towns and cities, causing considerable disruption to traffic.
The protests saw several hundred agricultural vehicles descend upon the German government district at Berlin鈥檚 iconic Brandenburg Gate on Monday.
The German government hopes the cuts announced in December will help save 鈧�920 million ($1 billion), according to German public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.
On Monday, a German government spokesperson told a press briefing that the government is not planning on changing its plans despite the protests.
A group of German farmers attempted to convey their fury last week by blocking the Economy Minister Robert Habeck from exiting a ferry in north west Germany. Habeck, who was travelling privately, was trapped in the ferry for several hours.
The incident was condemned by the President of the FarmersAssociation, Joachim Rukwied who called blockades of this nature a 鈥渘o-go鈥� in a Friday press release.
A rally organized in conjunction with the German freight industry has been announced for Jan. 15 in Berlin while multiple protests are planned for across the country.
FAR-RIGHT CONCERNS
Authorities have voiced concern that Germany鈥檚 far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is capitalizing on the farmers鈥� protests to support its own agenda.
CNN has seen footage of convoys of tractors and trucks, some adorned with protest banners and posters from the far-right AfD. Signs of the AfD hanging on tractors taking part in a protest against the cuts of vehicle subsidies read 鈥渙ur farmers first鈥� and 鈥淕ermany needs new elections.鈥�
On social media, the controversial leader of the AfD in the Eastern German state of Thuringia, Björn Höcke, launched an appeal on his Facebook page: 鈥淔ellow citizens, we will see you on the roads!鈥�
The politician is classified as an extremist by Germany鈥檚 Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
The AfD, which has been hitting record highs in polls and is currently scoring consistently above the three governing parties in the German government coalition, is hoping for major gains in three state elections this year.
However, the AfD itself advocates the abolition of subsidies for farmers in its own party manifesto and at the same time as backing the protest, using it as proof of the Germans鈥� dissatisfaction with Chancellor Olaf Scholz鈥� coalition government.
CNN鈥檚 Inke Kappeler and Niamh Kennedy contributed reporting.
