In March 2024, during an industrial dispute at Deutsche Bahn, the train drivers’ union GDL changed its tactics. Until then it had announced strikes about two days in advance. Now it said it would strike without that notice. The union called these Wellenstreiks, wave strikes. Its chairman, Claus Weselsky, said: Damit ist die Eisenbahn kein zuverlässiges Verkehrsmittel mehr. With this, the railway is no longer a reliable means of transport. Deutsche Bahn’s personnel director, Martin Seiler, called the wave strikes eine blanke Zumutung für unsere Fahrgäste, a sheer imposition on our passengers. Dirk Flege of the rail association Allianz pro Schiene said the union was taking away the passengers’ chance to at least prepare and umplanen, to change their plans.