07.05.2024 35-hour week at Die Länderbahn already from 01.01.2028

Die Länderbahn GmbH will adhere to the gradual implementation of the 35-hour week agreed with the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) in December 2023 for its shift workers by 01.01.2028. The reduction in working hours will therefore begin on January 1, 2025, i.e. one year before the gradual reduction in working hours provided for in the collective agreement with Deutsche Bahn, and can then be completed one year earlier. As part of their agreement, the parties had previously agreed to discuss the possible consequences of deviating agreements with all companies in the rail sector once again with regard to competitiveness after the union's collective bargaining agreement. The GDL last reached a wage agreement with Deutsche Bahn in March.

"With the decision to reduce working hours from 1 January 2025, we are keeping the promise we made to our employees last December, despite the not inconsiderable financial burden," emphasizes Stephan Naue, Managing Director of Länderbahn. "However, it is very important for us to show that we can be relied on as an employer and that we are prepared to take into account the daily challenges faced by our colleagues working shifts."

Specifically, the first reduction step will take place at the beginning of 2025, initially by half an hour from the current 38 hours to 37.5 hours per week. From 01.01.2026, there will be a further reduction of half an hour to 37 hours. This will be followed on January 1, 2027 and 2028 by a further hour each to 36 and then 35 hours. Employees can also choose whether they want to take advantage of the reduction in working hours or keep the higher-paid 40-hour week. In addition to the introduction of the 35-hour week on 01.01.2028, the company is also sticking to the agreed pay increase of 420 euros in total and the payment of an inflation adjustment bonus of 3,000 euros.

Die Länderbahn GmbH is one of the largest rail transport companies in Germany and operates the vogtlandbahn, trilex, oberpfalzbahn, alex and waldbahn services in Saxony, Bavaria, Thuringia and the Czech Republic and employs more than 1,000 people. From the timetable change in December 2026, the company will continue to expand and will then also operate a large part of the S-Bahn network in Central Germany. Around 350 new employees are to be recruited by December 2026, including around 250 train drivers and train attendants.

With regard to this ambitious personnel planning, Stephan Naue, Managing Director of Länderbahn, explains: "With this wage agreement, we are sending a positive signal to the labor market and helping to increase the attractiveness of rail professions. At the same time, we are investing heavily in the retraining and training of train drivers and train attendants at our company's own railroad school in order to recruit new employees for all our locations in Germany."

Die Länderbahn GmbH is a company of NETINERA Deutschland GmbH. The collective agreement also applies to the other five companies in the group: erixx GmbH, erixx Holstein GmbH, metronom Eisenbahngesellschaft mbH, Ostdeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft GmbH (ODEG) and vlexx GmbH.