Criticisms voiced over the breakdown of the ICE high-speed rail connection to Munich from Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken, the state capital of Saarland and a key player in the Euro-metropolis with around 1.5 million inhabitants, is facing a significant disruption to its long-distance transport links. German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) has announced the suspension of the direct ICE connection between Saarbrücken and Munich from July 4 to August 14, 2025, and again from September 13 to October 19, due to construction work between Ulm and Augsburg.

This suspension poses a significant challenge, as the direct connection is a central long-distance transport link for the state capital, the entire Saarland, and the cross-border Euro-metropolis. The disruption will also affect the celebrations for German Unity Day on October 3 in Saarbrücken.

The Mayor of Saarbrücken, Uwe Conradt, has expressed clear criticism towards the announcement, stating that the importance of Saarbrücken as a European transport hub is undermined by such measures. Conradt further emphasised that the repeated failures are not acceptable, as they affect business travelers, students, and families alike and permanently impair the attractiveness of the location.

In response, the Federal Government (Bund) has pledged to cooperate with the Saarland government and the partners of the Euro-Metropolis to improve the long-distance connections of Deutsche Bahn and make investments in rail infrastructure. Passengers will have to rely on alternative connections with transfers, for example, in Mannheim, during the suspension period.

Despite the cooperation, Conradt has called on German Railways to immediately provide transparent information, suitable replacement connections, and improved communication with passengers to minimise the inconvenience caused by the suspension. The state capital views the recurring failures as a fundamental problem of insufficient consideration of the Saarbrücken region in the long-distance transport concept.