Widespread Public Transport Strike Expected in Hesse
Public transport services across several cities in the German state of Hesse are bracing for significant disruption on Thursday, February 19, 2026, as the trade union Verdi has called for a fresh warning strike. The industrial action is expected to impact services in Frankfurt, Gießen, and Marburg, affecting employees of local transport operators including the Frankfurt Transport Authority (VGF), Stadtwerke Gießen, and the Marburg Transport Authority (MVG).
Frankfurt Services Heavily Impacted
In Frankfurt, commuters should anticipate severe limitations, particularly for underground (U-Bahn) and tram services. Most of these services are expected to remain in depots from early Thursday morning until the end of the day. However, S-Bahn and regional train services, which are operated by Deutsche Bahn, are not part of this strike and will continue to run as usual. City buses in Frankfurt are also largely expected to be unaffected, as their drivers are covered by different collective agreements. Replacement rail services for the U2 line are scheduled to operate to mitigate some of the impact.
Limited Disruptions in Gießen and Marburg
While the strike extends to Gießen and Marburg, the extent of disruptions in these cities is anticipated to be more limited. This is primarily because many bus drivers in these areas fall under separate contracts and are not directly involved in the current dispute.
Background to the Industrial Action
The warning strike comes after the latest round of negotiations over the collective agreement for local public transport in Hesse collapsed. Verdi is advocating for improved working conditions and higher pay for approximately 100,000 local transport employees nationwide. Key demands in Hesse focus on crucial aspects such as working hours, holidays, and bonuses. The union's broader objectives include calls for shorter weekly working hours, reduced shift lengths, longer rest periods, and increased bonuses for night and weekend work. This strike is part of a series of warning strikes initiated by Verdi across Germany in February 2026, as collective bargaining negotiations continue in various federal states.
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