Chaos on the rails: massive delays between Leipzig and Dresden!

Chaos on the rails: massive delays between Leipzig and Dresden!

Travelers between Leipzig and Dresden had to take considerable detours today, November 29, 2025. A switch failure has massively affected rail traffic on this important route. According to MDR there were delays of over two hours, which accumulated mainly over the course of the day. Buses had to be used between the two main stations, but these were only permitted for long-distance travelers, which didn't exactly ease the situation. The railway also stated that there were not enough seats available to accommodate the large number of travelers affected.

Travelers could not even rely on punctuality on the connection between Dresden and Berlin, where delays added up to 60 minutes. The situation in Niederau was particularly tragic, where the heart of a switch broke. Alternative routes were inaccessible due to construction work, which meant that trains on a 17 kilometer section could only run on one track rather than four as usual.

Obstructions caused by police operations

Another incident occurred: A police operation near Elsterwerda also hindered rail traffic, although the railway did not provide any further details. The Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn therefore warns of very high capacity utilization on its routes. To make the situation even more difficult for travelers, bicycles have been banned on Friday.

The lines RE 3, RE 6, RB 30, RB 45 and RB 110 are affected by these traffic disruptions. Travelers should definitely keep themselves up to date and use the information on bahn.de aktuell, which is regularly provided with the latest updates.

Passenger rights and compensation

Those affected by the massive delays may be able to hope for some refunds. If you are delayed at your destination by more than 60 minutes, you will receive a 25% refund of the ticket price, and even 100% if your trip is interrupted. For delays of 120 minutes it is already 50% of the ticket price. It is advisable to carefully check the current passenger rights and make sure to collect all necessary evidence if the trip is canceled.

In addition, Bahndampf offers daily updates of traffic reports for long-distance and regional transport. Travelers will find practical tips and information about their rights, which can be particularly valuable given today's difficulties.

Overall, it remains to be seen how long the disruptions will last and whether rail traffic can be resumed as normal soon. Travelers are well advised to make their plans flexible and to check the latest information regularly.