Construction work between Munich and Salzburg: train travelers in need!

Construction work between Munich and Salzburg: train travelers in need!

On Friday evening, November 15, 2025, construction work on the important railway line between Munich and Salzburg will begin in Germany. This measure comes at an extremely inopportune time, after numerous train cancellations and hour-long delays between the two cities in the previous days, leaving many travelers and commuters stranded at the train station in Salzburg. A railway spokeswoman confirmed that massive restrictions on regional and long-distance transport were placing a heavy burden on the affected passengers. ÖBB also reported delays of up to 120 minutes, which made the travel experience even more difficult. These unfortunate developments are due to unplanned delays in construction work between Rosenheim and Freilassing and the disruption is expected to last until midday on Tuesday. Many had to take the S-Bahn to Freilassing because the platforms were overcrowded.

Arnulf Schuchmann, managing director of the Bavarian Regiobahn (BRB), expressed frustration with the construction site management of Deutsche Bahn (DB). “Reliable train journeys are no longer possible,” says Schuchmann. His criticism was primarily directed at the DB's poor communication, which makes it difficult for passengers to receive reliable information about timetable changes and replacement services. DB InfraGO, the operator of the infrastructure, is struggling to provide the desired information quickly and effectively. Often the BRB and other affected parties only receive information three days in advance, which doesn't make the situation any easier.

Challenges for the railway network

The condition of the rail network is also cited as a reason for the ongoing problems. On the 840 kilometers of the BRB network, it has been difficult to find sections without difficulty for months. The construction work, which is often not completed on time, combined with a high density of construction sites, does not make it easy for travelers. In addition, DB's digital information systems are aging and only update information every few days, adding to the confusion.

The Bavarian Railway Company (BEG) has also received complaints about Deutsche Bahn's information policy, which poses major challenges for affected travelers when planning their journeys. This lack of clarity is particularly annoying as train traffic is expected to increase in the coming year. The DB plans to renew around 500 kilometers of tracks and more than 200 switches in Bavaria in 2026 in order to improve the infrastructure.

The current developments can be seen as part of a larger trend that points to increasing demand for train services. The railway is planning to expand its sprinter lines and international long-distance services, which could also bring additional orders from public transport providers for local passenger railways. This could mean that, despite the current challenges, rail transport will become increasingly important in the coming years. Nevertheless, the number of construction sites in the rail network remains high for the time being and will continue to pose a challenge.

Overall, it is clear that the coming weeks will remain challenging for travelers between Munich and Salzburg as Deutsche Bahn works to improve its information policy and maintain its infrastructure. An improvement in communication was promised for mid-November - travelers are curious to see whether this will actually happen.

For further information see also South Germans, Bavarian Radio and German railway.