The transport union ver.di has called a 24-hour warning strike for 25 September at Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (AVG), the tram-train operator that links Karlsruhe with the northern Black Forest and parts of Rhineland-Palatinate. The walk-out began at 03:00 and is scheduled to run until 04:00 on 26 September, affecting the entire AVG network (lines S1–S8, S31/32, S41/42, S51/52). Although Deutsche Bahn services are not directly involved, significant knock-on effects are expected because AVG vehicles share track with DB Regional-Express trains and provide “last-mile” feeds to ICE long-distance routes at Karlsruhe Hbf. The Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund (KVV) has already logged more than 150 cancelled departures in its passenger information system. The strike is part of the nationwide bargaining round for the Eisenbahntarifvertrag (ETV), covering employees at over 30 private rail firms. Ver.di is demanding a €650 flat-rate monthly raise and inflation compensation payments; employers have offered 4 % spread over 28 months. The next negotiation date is set for 5 October. For employers managing commuter budgets and relocation assignments in Baden-Württemberg, the industrial action highlights continued wage volatility in Germany’s fragmented rail sector. Contingency options include car-pooling allowances, remote-work arrangements or reimbursable taxi rides—expenses that should be pre-approved in mobility policies. If talks falter, ver.di has warned of rolling strikes in Q4 2026, potentially clashing with the critical Christmas travel window. Global mobility managers should therefore update risk matrices and traveller tracking tools for domestic German rail.
