Due to the rail strikes, demand for Flixtrain is increasing. Flixmobility
During the rail strikes, the transport company Flix benefits from increased demand for Flixtrain and Flixbus.
According to “Zeit online”, Flix does not employ bus drivers or train drivers in Germany, but rather organizes trips through subcontractors. The employees of mostly medium-sized companies are generally not union-oriented
The partner companies adapt the salaries of Flixbus drivers to local public transport, where collective agreements apply. Flix CEO André Schwämmlein explains this in an interview with “Zeit online”.
Since November 2023, rail strikes have repeatedly paralyzed Deutsche Bahn’s local and long-distance public transport. The last strike in mid-March was the sixth in the current collective bargaining dispute. The industrial action by the GDL train drivers has clearly noticeable economic effects. But there are also a few companies that are benefiting from the ongoing strikes. At the forefront: the transport company Flix.
Many passengers switched to green trains and long-distance buses on the days of the strike. There are generally no strikes at Flixtrain and Flixbus. Flix CEO André Schwämmlein now explained why in an interview with “time online„.
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The long-distance bus startup, founded in 2013 by three students, has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years. The company has also been operating on German rails since 2017. Today, Flixtrain is the only significant competitor that Deutsche Bahn has in long-distance public transport. This means: If there are problems there, Flix particularly benefits. Demand at Flixtrain rose to around double during the six-day rail strike in January, as “Capital“ reported.
Why isn’t Flixtrain on strike?
However, you probably haven’t heard of strikes at Flixtrain or Flixbus. Why is that? According to “Zeit online”, Flix does not employ bus drivers or train drivers in Germany. The trips are organized via subcontractors. The staff of mostly medium-sized companies are generally not unionized.
Schwämmlein explains in an interview that Flix’s partner companies would adjust the salaries of Flixbus drivers to local public transport, where collective agreements apply. After all, drivers always have the option of switching to this area. Accordingly, Flix bus drivers don’t have to go on strike at all: if local bus drivers campaign for better wages, sooner or later Flix will also get it. Things are different at Deutsche Bahn, where the majority of employees belong to a union.
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But there are also problems that affect both companies equally. Flixtrain and Deutsche Bahn achieve similar values, especially when it comes to punctuality. According to information from “Zeit online”, in 2023 82 percent of DB long-distance trains were delayed by less than 15 minutes. At Flixtrain, according to Schämmerlein, this number was 78 percent in 2022.
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