Deutsche Bahn expecting busy trains over holiday weekend

Deutsche Bahn is expecting trains across Germany to be busy over the Reunification Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) holiday weekend. Here’s what passengers need to know.

Trains likely to be busy in Germany this weekend

October 3 is a public holiday in Germany, and in 2025, the country will be celebrating 35 years since reunification. This means that schools, workplaces and shops will be closed while many people enjoy a day off. Cafes, restaurants and bars will remain open.

With schoolchildren in Thuringia, Hesse and Saxony also beginning their autumn holidays this weekend, Deutsche Bahn is expecting the train network - both long-distance trains and regional services - to be particularly busy.

"The start of the autumn holidays in three federal states, sunny weather at the weekend, not least large folk festivals in the south and the reunification celebration in Saarbrücken will lead to significantly more passengers in DB passenger transport," Deutsche Bahn explained.

Travelling to the Tag der Deutschen Einheit celebration in Saabrücken

Every year, Germany holds its Tag der Deutschen Einheit celebrations in a different federal state. In 2025, the celebration will be held in the capital of Saarland, Saarbrücken. 

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the country are expected to attend the event, which will centre around the future of unified Germany under the title "Future Through Change” (“Zukunft durch Wandel”). 

Organisers are advising attendees to travel to the event using public transport. From October 2 to 4, all bus and train journeys in the entire federal state of Saarland will be free. Deutsche Bahn and local transport associations will run additional services over the weekend to meet higher demand.

There will also be express bus lines running from Wadern, Elversberg, Wallerfangen, Gersheim, Tholey and Freisen to Saarbrücken. Anyone travelling from neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate only needs a ticket until their first stop in Saarland.

Passengers travelling from nearby Saargemünd and Forbach in France can also travel to Saarbrücken for free using the Saarbahn or number 30 bus.