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Protest storm in the Schwalm-Eder district: cuts in ICE connections trigger uproar
Protests in Marburg-Biedenkopf: Reduction of ICE connections from December 2025 leads to resolutions for better connections.
Protest storm in the Schwalm-Eder district: cuts in ICE connections trigger uproar
Discontent is spreading in the Schwalm-Eder-Kreis region: from December 14, 2025, the number of ICE train pairs on the important Main-Weser Railway will be drastically reduced. In the future there will only be five daily connections - including four to Bremen and one to Hamburg and Westerland/Sylt. These cuts, which Deutsche Bahn justified with declining demand and changed travel times, have already met with violent protests in Schwalmstadt and in the neighboring district of Marburg-Biedenkopf. Mayor Tobias Kreuter and other local politicians took stock in a video conference and expressed their displeasure. HNA and N-AG report that the SPD has introduced a resolution that calls for a return to the previous two-hour cycle and transparent communication from Deutsche Bahn.
What is behind these cuts? Deutsche Bahn primarily cites economic reasons: connections between Kassel and Frankfurt are declining sharply, which is why operations every four hours are necessary. But this argument leaves many on site perplexed. The Bundestag member Dr. Philipp Rottwilm described the announced changes as a significant weakening for the Schwalm-Eder district. “This not only means fewer travel options for commuters, but also a deterioration for our region as a whole,” said Rottwilm. He plans to maintain dialogue with the railways in order to improve connections.
The reactions in the region
The resolutions and protests are not just a reaction from politicians, but also reflect the concerns of citizens. “We have to prevent these cuts in order to secure mobility in our region,” says Kreuter, summing up the mood. The decision on the resolution in Schwalmstadt is due on Thursday evening. A positive result could ease residents' concerns and halt a decline in mobility. These developments are not only important locally, but also for the connection to the economically dynamic neighboring region.
However, the discussion about rail connections goes beyond the boundaries of the Schwalm-Eder district. Similar problems can also be observed in Thuringia. From 2026, Deutsche Bahn plans to restrict intercity connections in regions such as Naumburg and Jena. These measures met with considerable resistance. Loud MDR Representatives from politics, business and science in Jena expressed concerns about the accessibility of important infrastructure.
The ongoing uncertainty about rail connections and the associated changes raise the question: How will Deutsche Bahn react to the protests and resolutions? In any case, the discussion about the future of rail transport and mobility in the region will have to be continued.