Train chaos in the Pegnitztal: Commuters urged to change saddles now!

Train chaos in the Pegnitztal: Commuters urged to change saddles now!

The situation in the Pegnitztal is currently presenting a real challenge for commuters and travelers. As of Friday, September 19, 2025, at 3 a.m., Deutsche Bahn (DB) has stopped train services between Hersbruck and Pegnitz. This change not only affects regular passenger traffic, but also freight traffic, which has been banned from the Pegnitztal since September 1st due to dilapidated steel bridges that are over 100 years old. These bridges are a clear sign of the years of neglect of the railway infrastructure, which further exacerbates the problem. The announcement came almost without warning, which explains the frustrated reaction of affected commuters and politicians. Mayor Ilg von Hersbruck is stunned by the lack of communication from DB and fears that the replacement buses will not be enough.

Commuters are in turmoil and suddenly find themselves faced with unsafe commutes. The confusion is particularly evident at Pegnitz train station: A commuter described how she doesn't know how to get to her place of work, now that the trains from the north end in Pegnitz and only hourly bus connections are offered. Political voices are calling for immediate action because thousands of commuters are affected by this traffic change. There are also calls for the Franconia-Saxony mainline to be electrified as quickly as possible in order to improve the connection and solve the existing problems for travelers.

Political reactions and demands

Local politicians are alarmed about the current traffic disaster. District Administrator Armin Kroder speaks of a home-made problem, while Mayor Thomas Ebersberger describes the situation as the result of organized irresponsibility. Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter is also critical and says the closure could have been avoided. These political voices are not only calling for quick solutions, but also longer-term strategies to renovate and modernize the rail network. Dirk Flege, Managing Director of the Pro-Rail Alliance, emphasizes that the rail network in Germany has been underfinanced for years and that there is an enormous need for expansion.

Looking at nationwide developments, it is clear that the federal government is planning to invest 166 billion euros in infrastructure by 2029, with around 107 billion euros planned for rail. These funds are intended to renovate dilapidated railway lines and motorway bridges and pave the way for better connections. Particular attention is being paid to the more than 40 heavily used routes that are in the renovation process. At the same time, Deutsche Bahn emphasizes the need to obtain stable commitments for future planning.

A look into the future

The DB has announced that it will modernize the Pegnitz bridges, but the exact schedule is still pending. It has already been announced that the renovation was originally only planned from 2029 and so far no funds have been allocated for it. Despite the massive criticism, there remains hope that the planned investments at the federal level can sustainably improve both the infrastructure and mobility. Until then, many commuters' only option is to get used to the changed circumstances and use alternative means of transport while hoping for progress.

The discussion about the rail traffic situation in the Pegnitztal makes it clear that not only the current situation, but also the future of the rail infrastructure is a central issue for the entire region. It remains to be seen how politicians and Deutsche Bahn will face these challenges.

For more information about the impact of the closure and background information on the dilapidated bridges, take a look at the reporting from nn.de, br.de and tagesschau.de.