Ver.di shut down the U-Bahn, the trams, and the University Hospital in the same week. Deutsche Bank got raided on Tuesday and posted record profits on Wednesday. Winter in Frankfurt.
CITY PULSE 🏙️
Frankfurt ground to a halt twice this week!
On January 28, ver.di called a warning strike at Frankfurt University Hospital. Around 4,500 non-medical staff walked out, forcing the cancellation of elective surgeries. Emergency care continued. The union is demanding a 7% pay raise at least €300 per month in regional public sector wage negotiations.
Five days later, the same union shut down the city's entire U-Bahn and tram network. A 24-hour strike on February 2 left VGF services at a standstill. S-Bahn and roads absorbed the overflow. Neither handled it well.
Worse timing: a broken rail at Konstablerwache, blamed on extreme cold, caused additional S-Bahn disruptions across lines S1–S6, S8, and S9.
Ver.di represents nearly 100,000 transport workers demanding shorter shifts, longer rest breaks, and better pay for night and weekend work. Negotiations resume February 9. The GDL peace agreement with Deutsche Bahn also expires this month. More disruption is likely.
Around the city:
Tour bus torched at Mainufer: A Hallescher FC bus was destroyed by fire at Sachsenhausen's riverbank on January 31. Police suspect arson. Fuel contaminated the Main.
Pedestrian killed in suspected street race: A 58-year-old man died in Bornheim on January 30 after being struck by a car allegedly racing. He had just stepped off a tram.
Thousands rally for Iran and Syria: Over 4,000 demonstrated for Iranian freedom; 3,000 for Kurdish rights in Syria. A smaller Israel-Palestine protest on the Zeil was dispersed after police intervened over hate-speech slogans.
MONEY MOVES 💰
On January 28, BKA officers entered Deutsche Bank's Frankfurt headquarters and Berlin offices. The investigation: whether suspicious transactions between 2013 and 2018 linked to entities associated with sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich were properly reported.
Twenty-four hours later, the bank announced €9.7 billion pre-tax profit for FY2025. The highest in nearly 20 years. Up 84% year-over-year.
CEO Christian Sewing framed the probe as a "legacy issue" while celebrating the results. Record profitability alongside compliance ghosts from the pre-2018 era. Both are true. Neither cancels the other.
Also in business:
Bloomberg takes 5,000 sq m: The media company signed a lease for former WeWork space—a sign of life in Frankfurt's commercial real estate market.
Kuehne+Nagel expands at the airport: The logistics giant leased 7,600 sq m at CargoCity South, with plans to reach 20,000+ sq m by 2028.
Airport debuts Auracast—world first: Frankfurt became the first airport globally to deploy Bluetooth LE Audio for gate announcements. Streams directly to hearing aids, earbuds, or smartphones.
LIVING HERE 🥨
After stops in Madrid, Vienna, and Munich, the immersive Titanic exhibition opened at Raumfabrik Frankfurt on January 30.
The 90-minute experience walks visitors through a replica of Southampton's departure port, past reconstructed cabins and grand staircases, and into a VR room where you can explore the ship down to the last deck. Captain Smith greets you via augmented reality. The orchestra plays. The iceberg waits.
It runs through April 12 at Heddernheimer Landstraße 153. Tickets are timed-entry; public transport recommended (parking is limited). The venue is a 3-minute walk from Heddernheimer Landstraße station.
Worth knowing:
Mumbai–Frankfurt gets new Dreamliner: Air India introduced its Boeing 787-9 on the route, operating five times weekly with upgraded cabin interiors.
Blood donation crisis deepens: Hesse health authorities renewed urgent appeals. Several blood groups remain critically low due to winter illness and reduced turnout.
City launches sustainability dashboard: Frankfurt unveiled a public tracker displaying real-time environmental data, adapted from Marburg's system.
BEYOND THE SKYLINE 🌍
Chancellor Merz's government revised Germany's 2026 GDP forecast to 1%, down from 1.3%. The Bundesbank is less optimistic: 0.6% for 2026, strengthening to 1.3% in 2027.
In a letter to coalition members, Merz described the outlook as "very critical in some areas" and called for "radical" steps to reverse the slide. What that means for Frankfurt's financial sector, already navigating compliance probes and commercial real estate softness, remains unclear.
Quick takes:
Six EU nations launch "Two-Speed Europe": Finance ministers from Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands met January 28. Priorities: Capital Markets Union, digital euro, defense spending.
Digital euro targets 2029: Bundesbank President Nagel says Europe is "too dependent on US corporations" in payments. Development cost: €1.3 billion.
ECB expected to hold rates: The February 5 meeting in Frankfurt should keep the deposit rate at 2%. Eurozone inflation hit target in December.
Minimum wage rises to €13.90: Germany's statutory minimum increased January 1—14% higher than when introduced in 2015. Up to 6.6 million workers affected.
2026 tax changes take effect: Commuter allowance now 38 cents/km from kilometer one. Restaurant VAT permanently at 7%. Basic tax-free allowance rises to €12,348.
THIS WEEKEND 📅
February 6–8, 2026
The international consumer goods and creative supplies trade fairs run February 6–10—thousands of exhibitors across design, lifestyle, dining, and hobby supplies. Expect crowds near Messe all week.
Also happening:
Earl Sweatshirt – US rap at Batschkapp (Sat, Feb 7)
Warkings + Visions of Atlantis – Power metal at Batschkapp (Sun, Feb 8)
Die große Verdi-Gala – Opera highlights at Alte Oper (Fri, Feb 6)
Zürcher Kammerorchester & Daniel Hope – Classical at Alte Oper (Sat, Feb 7)
Bassgeflüster Showcase – Electronic at Tanzhaus West (Fri, Feb 6, 23:00)
FEMC – FLINTA* Electronic Music Conference at MOMEM (Fri–Sat)
Marché de Nuit – YOU FM Nachtmarkt (Sat, Feb 7, 18:00)
Mädchenklamotte – Women's fashion flea market at Jahrhunderthalle (Sun, Feb 8, 11:00)
COMING UP 🔜
February 9: Ver.di negotiations resume. More strike action likely if talks fail.
UPDATES
English Theatre opened: Doors opened February 1 at the new Gallileo Tower location. First production: Something Rotten!
Eintracht names Riera: Albert Riera officially started as head coach on February 3. Contract runs until 2028.
That's all for this week. Stay sharp, Frankfurt.
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069 – Your weekly pulse on Frankfurt
