Deutsche Bahn sets out measures after crowding incidents at Munich Hauptbahnhof

Deutsche Bahn has set out a series of measures intended to prevent dangerous crowding at Munich's main station, the Hauptbahnhof, after two incidents in May and on 19 June 2026. The measures were outlined in a reply from Dr Hanna Sammüller, head of the city's district administration department, to a motion of 2 July 2026 from SPD city councillors Simone Burger, Arda Celik, Felix Lang, Dr Nadine Liebchen, Barbara Likus and Lena Odell. The councillors had asked for Deutsche Bahn to give the city council an explanation of the causes and a detailed safety plan.

According to Deutsche Bahn, the two incidents are not directly comparable. In May, the station was overcrowded because trains had been diverted into the Hauptbahnhof due to construction work, combined with disruption on the network. In June, passengers built up in front of platform 19 because people getting off a delayed train first had to leave the platform. With passenger numbers already high on a Friday lunchtime and the line to Augsburg closed, a crowd briefly formed on the cross-platform concourse. Munich's fire service said it had no evidence of any specific danger to travellers. No emergency calls were received in connection with either incident, and neither the fire brigade nor the ambulance service was needed.

Deutsche Bahn says it has revised its disruption plan so that diverted S-Bahn trains are brought into the main hall, removed bottlenecks caused by temporary construction storage areas, and reviewed and adjusted timetables for similar diversions due to run until September. It is also planning to deploy more staff to manage passenger flows and dispatch trains, and has tightened the timing and chain of alerts when overcrowding threatens, so that it can respond faster. A body has been set up to look at the whole section of line from München-Ost to Pasing during significant construction work, with greater attention on whether operating plans fit how the stations run, as space at the Hauptbahnhof, Ostbahnhof and Pasing has changed because of building work. Further measures are under discussion but have not yet been agreed.

For events expected to bring more passengers, such as concerts, football matches or the Oktoberfest, DB Sicherheit draws up a security plan. DB InfraGO AG is responsible for the safe operation of the Hauptbahnhof, while the Federal Railway Authority supervises and approves Deutsche Bahn facilities.

Munich's fire service is involved in assessing fire and disaster protection, including checking escape routes, during construction of the second S-Bahn trunk line and the redevelopment of the Hauptbahnhof, and carries out regular on-site inspections. It contacted Deutsche Bahn's Munich station management after the June incident became known, before the councillors' motion, asking for an account of what happened and how such situations will be avoided. The fire service says it will continue talks with Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Railway Authority to monitor whether the measures are effective and to identify any further action needed.