Strikes Cripple German Rail Services

Germany's rail system was crippled by a strike held by rail workers disputing pay yesterday.

Stoppages have continued today, with the locomotive drivers' union calling a four-hour nationwide stoppage.

The strike follows a series of pinpoint strikes by members of two other unions on Monday (July 2) after Germany's national rail service Deutsche Bahn rejected union demands to raise pay by 7%.

The stoppages have affected regional services and some commuter links in 13 towns and cities across Germany, including Frankfurt, Rostock, Erfurt, Dortmund, Freiburg and Karlsruhe.

The strike is the first major disruption at the state-owned rail network since drivers staged nationwide warning strikes over pay in 2003.