Hundreds of thousands of people faced train cancellations across Germany from Wednesday, as a three-day nationwide rail strike added to travel chaos in Europe's largest economy, where farmers' protests have blocked highways and snarled traffic.

The strikes, called by the GDL train drivers' union from Wednesday to Friday evening, have forced national rail operator Deutsche Bahn to run only stripped-back emergency timetables.

One in five long-distance high-speed rail services were running and regional services have been "massively thinned out", a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson told reporters at Berlin's central station, empty of its usual crowds.

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At Cologne railway station in western Germany, commuters wrapped up against freezing temperatures checked departure boards for timetable changes.

After Ulrich Linke's first train failed to show up, he said he would hang around to see if the next one appears. "I'll wait for three-quarters of an hour at minus seven degrees here in the main station," he told Reuters.

"It's sad when you work in healthcare," said commuter Alex Mueller. "We work in a retirement home and we have to get to work."

The head of the German farmers' association DBV vowed to ramp up their protests on Wednesday, after convoys of tractors and trucks blocked roads across the country earlier this week.

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The strikes and protests add to pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government, which faces growing economic problems, including weak macroeconomic data, high interest rates and a budget mess.

The long-running row over train drivers' pay and working hours flared up again following a three-week truce over Christmas, and after an effort by Deutsche Bahn to block the latest strikes with a court injunction did not succeed.

The GDL is seeking a reduced working week for its shift workers, from 38 to 35 hours, on current wages. Deutsche Bahn has offered flexibility on working hours but refused to reduce them without a pay cut.

The train operator argues that the union's demands would lead to a 50 per cent&nbsp;hike in staffing costs, partly because it would have to hire more workers as Germany faces a skilled labour shortage.

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"We are prepared to make compromises and gradually reduce the weekly working hours so that the employer side also has the opportunity to train staff," GDL boss Claus Weselsky told the ZDF public broadcaster.

"If we get nothing by Friday, we'll take a break then enter the next round of industrial action," he added.

Cargo train drivers are also striking until Friday, leading to supply chain concerns, with almost one-fifth of German freight traffic transported via railway.

Hundreds of thousands of people faced train cancellations across Germany from Wednesday, as a three-day nationwide rail strike added to travel chaos in Europe's largest economy, where farmers' protests have blocked highways and snarled traffic.

Hundreds of thousands of people faced train cancellations across Germany from Wednesday, as a three-day nationwide rail strike added to travel chaos in Europe's largest economy, where farmers' protests have blocked highways and snarled traffic. The strikes, called by the GDL train drivers' union from Wednesday to Friday evening, have forced national rail operator Deutsche Bahn to run only stripped-back emergency timetables. One in five long-distance high-speed rail services were running and regional services have been "massively thinned out", a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson told reporters at Berlin's central station, empty of its usual crowds. ALSO READ | UK Post Office scandal: PM Sunak announces new emergency law to overturn convictions At Cologne railway station in western Germany, commuters wrapped up against freezing temperatures checked departure boards for timetable changes. After Ulrich Linke's first train failed to show up, he said he would hang around to see if the next one appears. "I'll wait for three-quarters of an hour at minus seven degrees here in the main station," he told Reuters. "It's sad when you work in healthcare," said commuter Alex Mueller. "We work in a retirement home and we have to get to work." The head of the German farmers' association DBV vowed to ramp up their protests on Wednesday, after convoys of tractors and trucks blocked roads across the country earlier this week. ALSO READ | France’s new PM Gabriel Attal starts working towards cabinet reshuffle The strikes and protests add to pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government, which faces growing economic problems, including weak macroeconomic data, high interest rates and a budget mess. The long-running row over train drivers' pay and working hours flared up again following a three-week truce over Christmas, and after an effort by Deutsche Bahn to block the latest strikes with a court injunction did not succeed. The GDL is seeking a reduced working week for its shift workers, from 38 to 35 hours, on current wages. Deutsche Bahn has offered flexibility on working hours but refused to reduce them without a pay cut. The train operator argues that the union's demands would lead to a 50 per cent hike in staffing costs, partly because it would have to hire more workers as Germany faces a skilled labour shortage. ALSO READ | Germany braces for ‘mega strike’: Bus, railways, airports to come to grinding halt on Monday "We are prepared to make compromises and gradually reduce the weekly working hours so that the employer side also has the opportunity to train staff," GDL boss Claus Weselsky told the ZDF public broadcaster. "If we get nothing by Friday, we'll take a break then enter the next round of industrial action," he added. Cargo train drivers are also striking until Friday, leading to supply chain concerns, with almost one-fifth of German freight traffic transported via railway.

German railways grind to near halt in three-day train drivers’ strike

Egypt, a country where only 14.3 per cent of women are formally employed, has now marked another milestone with the Cairo Metro recruiting the country’s first female train drivers to expand its services to a population of nearly 20 million people. To safeguard women from sexual harassment, the Cairo Metro offers reserved carriages for those who do not want to travel with men.

Cairo Metro, launched in 1987, being the oldest in the Arab world, falls behind the other Arab countries in providing job opportunities for women.

According to its two pioneers, women have already taken control of the drivers' cab since April, offending many, from raising eyebrows to making faces of disgust. Egyptian women have had the right to vote and stand for office since 1956, but patriarchal laws and a predominately male culture have severely restricted personal freedoms.

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Hind Omar, a business graduate, and mother of two, rushed to apply to be a train driver. She said, "I have several thousand lives in my hands every day." The 30-year-old woman, proudly wearing her neon jacket and her black and white hijab, said that her family has always been supportive.

Omar further claimed that the tests for women aspiring to be train drivers had been difficult and required the applicants to exhibit their ‘attention span’ and ‘endurance.’ She further claimed that women need to be watchful for long hours during the six-day working week.

Another woman qualified to be train driver,&nbsp;Suzanne Mohammed, 32, recounted reaction on initially seen sitting on the driver’s seat by the passengers on the platform.

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She further stated that in a country where women have restricted access to numerous careers, people were astonished. In conversation with AFP, she said that there were several passengers who were afraid and doubted her skills, and felt they were not safe with a woman in control.

The Cairo Metro is planning to add three new lines.&nbsp;Omar said, "pave the way for other women," encouraging them to be train drivers, and there are many waiting to be one.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Egypt, a country where only 14.3 per cent of women are formally employed, has now marked another milestone with the Cairo Metro recruiting the country’s first female train drivers to expand its services to a population of nearly 20 million people.

Egypt, a country where only 14.3 per cent of women are formally employed, has now marked another milestone with the Cairo Metro recruiting the country’s first female train drivers to expand its services to a population of nearly 20 million people. To safeguard women from sexual harassment, the Cairo Metro offers reserved carriages for those who do not want to travel with men. Cairo Metro, launched in 1987, being the oldest in the Arab world, falls behind the other Arab countries in providing job opportunities for women. According to its two pioneers, women have already taken control of the drivers' cab since April, offending many, from raising eyebrows to making faces of disgust. Egyptian women have had the right to vote and stand for office since 1956, but patriarchal laws and a predominately male culture have severely restricted personal freedoms. Also read | Howard Carter stole treasure from Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, claims new book Hind Omar, a business graduate, and mother of two, rushed to apply to be a train driver. She said, "I have several thousand lives in my hands every day." The 30-year-old woman, proudly wearing her neon jacket and her black and white hijab, said that her family has always been supportive. Omar further claimed that the tests for women aspiring to be train drivers had been difficult and required the applicants to exhibit their ‘attention span’ and ‘endurance.’ She further claimed that women need to be watchful for long hours during the six-day working week. Another woman qualified to be train driver, Suzanne Mohammed, 32, recounted reaction on initially seen sitting on the driver’s seat by the passengers on the platform. Also read | Egyptian court demands that femicide executions be televised live She further stated that in a country where women have restricted access to numerous careers, people were astonished. In conversation with AFP, she said that there were several passengers who were afraid and doubted her skills, and felt they were not safe with a woman in control. The Cairo Metro is planning to add three new lines. Omar said, "pave the way for other women," encouraging them to be train drivers, and there are many waiting to be one. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'I have several thousand lives in my hands every day': Egypt's first woman Metro train driver

German train drivers voted to go on strike from Tuesday over a wage dispute, their union said, in a blow for summer vacationers and adding to logistics and supply woes already plaguing the industry.

The walkout will affect cargo trains from 7 pm (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, before extending to passenger traffic at 2 am on Wednesday, said the train drivers' GDL union leader, Claus Weselsky.

Some 95 per cent of union members had voted for the first round of industrial action, which is due to end on Friday.

Train operator Deutsche Bahn slammed the decision as an "unnecessary escalation on the back of rail customers".

"Just as people are travelling more again and using trains, GDL leaders are destroying the upswing that we urgently need given the huge damage from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus pandemic</a>," said Martin Seiler, DB board member for human resources and legal affairs.

But Weselsky argued that the GDL "intentionally chose this timeframe in the week to limit the impact on weekend and holiday traffic" and that it was "never the best time" for a strike.

He in turn accused DB managers of "lining their pockets while the little guys are getting their pockets picked."

The strike would be the first hitting rail traffic since December 2018, when a stoppage was called for four hours.

It marked a new setback at the height of the key summer vacation season for the travel industry which was only starting to recover after months of shutdown over coronavirus infection risks.

With the walkout also due to affect rail cargo,&nbsp;Germany's industrial groups already hit by supply chain issues risk seeing further delivery delays for raw materials or components from timber to steel to computer chips.

Struggle for influence?&nbsp;

The last major conflict between unions and DB occurred between 2014-2015 when GDL organised nine rounds of strikes over nine months to demand regulatory reforms.&nbsp;

The stoppage in May 2015 of six consecutive days has held the record as the longest in the company's history.

This time, GDL argues that it was fighting for a better remuneration deal for train drivers. Among its demands are a 1.4 per cent pay hike, a bonus of 600 euros ($704) for 2021, and a further wage rise of 1.8 per cent in 2022.

Deutsche Bahn had offered to phase in a 3.2 per cent wage increase in two steps but the two parties were unable to agree on when the hikes would apply.

Critics have accused GDL of using the strike to gain greater influence and attract members from larger union EVG -- which covers railway workers and public transport employees.

The fight for influence was all the more critical due to a rule coming in force this year stipulating that the collective deal negotiated by the biggest union applies across the sector.

Deutsche Bahn was already contending with huge losses as demand for travel drastically shrank over the pandemic which erupted in March 2020.

It was also struggling to rebuild kilometres of tracks destroyed by deadly floods that struck western&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;in mid-July.

German train drivers voted to go on strike from Tuesday over a wage dispute, their union said, in a blow for summer vacationers and adding to logistics and supply woes already plaguing the industry.

German train drivers voted to go on strike from Tuesday over a wage dispute, their union said, in a blow for summer vacationers and adding to logistics and supply woes already plaguing the industry. The walkout will affect cargo trains from 7 pm (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, before extending to passenger traffic at 2 am on Wednesday, said the train drivers' GDL union leader, Claus Weselsky. Some 95 per cent of union members had voted for the first round of industrial action, which is due to end on Friday. Train operator Deutsche Bahn slammed the decision as an "unnecessary escalation on the back of rail customers". "Just as people are travelling more again and using trains, GDL leaders are destroying the upswing that we urgently need given the huge damage from the coronavirus pandemic," said Martin Seiler, DB board member for human resources and legal affairs. But Weselsky argued that the GDL "intentionally chose this timeframe in the week to limit the impact on weekend and holiday traffic" and that it was "never the best time" for a strike. He in turn accused DB managers of "lining their pockets while the little guys are getting their pockets picked." The strike would be the first hitting rail traffic since December 2018, when a stoppage was called for four hours. It marked a new setback at the height of the key summer vacation season for the travel industry which was only starting to recover after months of shutdown over coronavirus infection risks. With the walkout also due to affect rail cargo, Germany's industrial groups already hit by supply chain issues risk seeing further delivery delays for raw materials or components from timber to steel to computer chips. Struggle for influence? The last major conflict between unions and DB occurred between 2014-2015 when GDL organised nine rounds of strikes over nine months to demand regulatory reforms. The stoppage in May 2015 of six consecutive days has held the record as the longest in the company's history. This time, GDL argues that it was fighting for a better remuneration deal for train drivers. Among its demands are a 1.4 per cent pay hike, a bonus of 600 euros ($704) for 2021, and a further wage rise of 1.8 per cent in 2022. Deutsche Bahn had offered to phase in a 3.2 per cent wage increase in two steps but the two parties were unable to agree on when the hikes would apply. Critics have accused GDL of using the strike to gain greater influence and attract members from larger union EVG -- which covers railway workers and public transport employees. The fight for influence was all the more critical due to a rule coming in force this year stipulating that the collective deal negotiated by the biggest union applies across the sector. Deutsche Bahn was already contending with huge losses as demand for travel drastically shrank over the pandemic which erupted in March 2020. It was also struggling to rebuild kilometres of tracks destroyed by deadly floods that struck western Germany in mid-July.

German train drivers call strike in escalating wage spat

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