“The railway will stop long-distance traffic at some point on Thursday, at least that is very likely,” says Jan Schenk, meteorologist at “The Weather Channel” in an interview with FOCUS online.
Delays in regional and long-distance transport can occur, particularly due to branches in the overhead lines or fallen trees on the tracks. Travelers should keep this in mind. Schenk continues: “Especially in the north, the storm is becoming so strong that massive restrictions must be expected from Thursday. If you can, you should have your Christmas presents together and ideally travel after the storm.”
In principle, the situation should return to normal from Saturday. However, the railway is expecting a high volume of travel on the day in question and also on Christmas Eve. Seat reservations are no longer possible on many long-distance trains. It is therefore advisable not to travel until Christmas Day. During heavy storms and hurricane force winds, travelers should under no circumstances switch to a vehicle. Objects blown along pose the greatest danger in a storm.
The ADAC also recommends removing roof boxes, roof racks and other structures in order to minimize damage in extreme cases. You should also take photos of the parked car or film it with your smartphone. This can be important for insurance in the event of damage.
Ferries are canceled due to storms
The first ferries between the Halligen and the Schleswig-Holstein mainland will be canceled on Thursday due to the predicted storm, as the Wyker Dampfschiffs-Reederei announced on its website. Due to the expected flooding, there could be further cancellations and timetable changes until Saturday.
From Thursday afternoon, several departures from Harlesiel and Wangerooge in East Frisia will no longer take place, said the German railway with. The island of Langeoog also announced possible ferry cancellations.
This is what travelers need to know
Travelers should regularly inform themselves about current ship and train connections.
“If rail traffic is closed due to a storm and you cannot continue traveling until the next day at the earliest, the railway must either offer you alternative transport or provide free overnight accommodation,” says the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations. The bus is a potential alternative transport for long-distance journeys, and a shared taxi for local transport.