The trains in Germany are at a standstill (archive image).Image: keystone
There will be massive problems with rail traffic in Germany on Tuesday evening. The reason is apparently a nationwide disruption to digital railway radio. Trains are being held back at stations for the time being.
June 23, 2026, 11:17 p.mJune 23, 2026, 11:50 p.m
Rail traffic in Germany was apparently massively disrupted on Tuesday evening. How Focus Online Reportedly, trains are to be held back at stations nationwide due to problems with the digital rail radio system GSM-R.
A railway spokesman explained: “Due to a nationwide disruption to the GSMR digital railway radio, all trains are temporarily being held back at stations. Our technicians are working hard to resolve the problem. Further information will follow as soon as possible.”
Travelers are stuck
Several Focus Online employees reported announcements and display boards that spoke of a major nationwide disruption. Dozens of travelers were stranded at the Westkreuz S-Bahn station in Berlin. A railway employee is said to have told them that the disruption could last “five or six hours”.
There are also indications of massive restrictions from North Rhine-Westphalia. According to Focus Online, WDR reported that all train operations in North Rhine-Westphalia had been stopped. The Zuginfo.nrw portal also confirmed corresponding information.
Cause unclear
According to the head of Deutsche Bahn, Evelyn Palla, the federally owned company does not yet know the exact cause of the nationwide disruption. “We are now trying to get the trains into the stations so that passengers can get off. And then we have to fix the problem that we don’t yet know about,” Palla told the “Bild” newspaper.
It was initially unclear in the evening how long the disruption would last and how many travelers would be affected. According to Focus Online, Deutsche Bahn announced further information. (mke)