Freight trains on Lake Constance: Hotels fight against noise and tourism fears!

Freight trains on Lake Constance: Hotels fight against noise and tourism fears!

Since March 2025, freight traffic on the Southern Railway between Friedrichshafen and Lindau has increased significantly. This development is causing dissatisfaction among residents and hoteliers in the region, who report the effects of increased train traffic. In particular, the increased noise caused by the freight trains, which cross the lakeside communities up to ten times a day, is an issue that concerns many citizens and holidaymakers. Hans-Jörg Witzigmann, hotel owner in Nonnenhorn, notes that the issue is present in his hotel, even though no frequent complaints have been received from guests so far.

Peter Marschall, hotelier at the Teddy Bear Hotel in Kressbronn, expresses concern about the negative feedback from his guests, particularly regarding the noise from the trains at night. Holidaymakers are looking for peace and relaxation in this region, and Marschall is calling for regulations for rest times that would be comparable to those in air traffic. Deutsche Bahn plans to run no more than ten freight trains per day on this route and has stressed that the trains will run mainly at night in order to cause as little disruption to passenger traffic as possible.

Background of the changes

The increase in freight traffic on the Southern Railway is the result of the electrification of the route, which was completed at the end of 2021. The new overhead line was put into operation in December 2021 and affects both the routes between Ulm and Friedrichshafen and between Friedrichshafen and Lindau-Aeschach. This electrification has enabled Deutsche Bahn to expand freight transport.

Ten years ago, freight traffic on this route was still very sporadic. At that time, only a few freight trains ran, while the number of passenger trains increased from 70 to 75 every day. In recent years, hoteliers have observed growing dissatisfaction with the railway and the feeling that their concerns are not receiving sufficient attention. Although the tourist information offices in the lakeside communities have not yet recorded any massive complaints, it remains to be hoped that the situation can stabilize over the course of the season.

An important traffic axis

The electrification of the Southern Railway is part of a larger project that also includes the High Rhine line between Basel and Erzingen. According to current plans, electric trains are to be used on the High Rhine route by 2027, and the development of the Lake Constance Belt Railway offers an important gap between the High Rhine region and the Swabian Alb. This expansion is not only important for the local population, but also for the connection between larger cities such as Basel, Konstanz, Friedrichshafen, Stuttgart, Ulm and Munich.

While infrastructure is improving, the challenge remains of balancing the needs of residents and tourists with logistical growth. Given the current circumstances, it will be important to find solutions that take into account both transport needs and the quality of life in the region. Further information about the electrified routes can be found on the website Lake Constance Belt Railway and detailed reports about the situation on Lake Constance are available daily news available.