Munich S-Bahn: S6 replaced by buses between Gauting and Pasing

From tonight, Friday 23 October, buses replace S6 trains between Gauting and Pasing in Munich’s south-western suburbs, and the replacement service runs until the end of November. According to tz, construction at Westkreuz also disrupts the S5, the S8 and several regional train lines into Munich over the coming weeks.

What happened

tz reports that Deutsche Bahn is carrying out construction work at Westkreuz, the S-Bahn junction in western Munich, and renewing the Oberleitung (overhead power line) between Westkreuz and Gauting. The rail operator is building a niveaufreie Verzweigung at Westkreuz, a grade-separated junction where tracks cross at different levels rather than on the flat. It is also renewing the overhead lines on the S6 and S8. tz notes that the Landkreis Starnberg (Starnberg district, south-west of Munich) has seen repeated disruption of this kind since the middle of the year.

Some of the work overlaps with construction on the Stammstrecke, the central S-Bahn tunnel line through the city centre. Deutsche Bahn told tz that at times, work on the Stammstrecke will happen at the same time and have additional effects on the S5, S6 and S8.

What it means for you

S6: Gauting to Pasing

From 23 October until the end of November, Schienenersatzverkehr (rail replacement buses) runs instead of the S6 between Gauting and Pasing. The buses stop at these replacement stops:

• Gauting Busbahnhof
• Stockdorf Baierplatz
• Planegg Bahnhofstraße
• Gräfelfing Bahnhofstraße/Eichendorffplatz (a new stop)
• Lochham Lochhamer Straße
• Westkreuz Haberlandstraße/Heimburgstraße
• Pasing Carossastraße

S8: Harthaus to Pasing and on to Ostbahnhof

The S8 is affected in two blocks: from tonight until Monday 2 November, and again from Friday 6 November to Monday 9 November. During these periods buses replace trains between Harthaus and Pasing, and every second train is cancelled between Pasing and Ostbahnhof (Munich East station). Trains to and from Ostbahnhof use platforms 6 to 13 and do not stop at Leuchtenbergring. The replacement bus stops are:

• Pasing Carossastraße
• Westkreuz Aubinger Straße
• Neuaubing Bodenseestraße
• Freiham
• Harthaus P+R-Parkplatz Nord (the northern park-and-ride car park)

S5: full cancellation

During the same periods, the S5 does not run at all between Ostbahnhof and Pasing, Germering-Unterpfaffenhofen and Weßling. Deutsche Bahn told tz that while the S5 is out of service, S6 trains leave Pasing a few minutes earlier towards the city centre and also stop at Laim.

Regional trains from Tutzing and Starnberg

All regional trains between Tutzing, Starnberg and Munich are cancelled. Buses replace the RB6, RB65, RB66 and RE61 lines from Saturday 24 October to Monday 9 November.

What to check before you travel

• Look up current timetables on bahn.de or in the DB Navigator app before each trip, as the S5 and S8 schedules change in blocks.
• Bicycles are not allowed on the replacement buses, so plan another way if you usually take your bike on the train.
• Allow for longer journeys and find the replacement stops near you in advance. Several are on side streets rather than at the station itself.
• If you commute from the Starnberg district or the western suburbs into Munich, check whether your usual train is an S-Bahn or a regional train, because the dates differ.

What to watch next

The S8 and S5 disruption comes in two blocks, so watch for the change on Monday 2 November and the second closure from Friday 6 November. Regional services should return after Monday 9 November, while the S6 replacement buses continue until the end of November. Because the work overlaps with Stammstrecke construction, Deutsche Bahn points passengers to s-bahn-muenchen.de/fahren/baustellen/stammstrecke for further updates. Given the restrictions seen since mid-year, residents along the S6 and S8 corridors should expect more closures while the Westkreuz junction and the overhead line renewal are completed.

Source: tz