Rail transport on the Riedbahn, a key railway connecting Frankfurt and Mannheim, was suspended on 1 January as part of a large-scale renovation project, reported German media DVZ.

The suspension will remain until 22 January, impacting passenger and freight transport in multiple German cities, including Hesse, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.

In the meantime, local news has raised questions about rail strikes taking place this month nationwide.

After 97% of the German Locomotive Drivers' Union (GDL) members voted in favour of unrestricted strikes in the country, observers claim the strikes could come as early as 8 January. However, no official announcement has yet been made by the union.

In December, the union attempted to reach an agreement with multiple employers, including Deutsche Bahn, but the negotiations failed.

According to the union, the strikes raise multiple demands, including mandatory rest days, no obligation to work overtime and more vacation days through a time supplement for night work.

In a new development, local news reported today that Deutsche Bahn is taking legal action against the train drivers' union in the wage dispute with the GDL.

This could delay any prospect of a resolution in the near future.