Only the final day of ProWein affected – 30 additional buses operating on four special routes
Rheinbahn has announced a full-day strike for Tuesday, 17 March 2026. Industrial action is also planned for Monday, 16 March; however, this will affect internal company departments only. Public transport services will operate as normal on Monday.
The strike affecting passenger services will begin at 3.00 am on Tuesday, 17 March, and is expected to last 24 hours. During this period, no underground (U-Bahn) or tram services will operate. Only a limited number of bus routes will run in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area. An overview of the bus lines still in operation is available on Rheinbahn’s official information channels. According to current information, bus line 722, serving the route to and from the South Entrance, will be in operation. However, it is expected to be heavily used and therefore significantly congested on the day of the strike.
The strike affects the entire Rheinbahn network, including the City of Düsseldorf, the district of Mettmann, the City of Meerbusch, and connections to Duisburg, Krefeld, Neuss and Ratingen. The industrial action coincides with the third and final day of ProWein 2026 (15–17 March). The first two trade fair days, Sunday and Monday, are not affected.
ProWein Organises Dedicated Shuttle Services
Messe Düsseldorf responded immediately following the announcement and arranged additional transport capacity. The priority is clear: ProWein will continue to operate reliably as the global meeting place for the industry, including on its final day.
For Tuesday, 17 March, Messe Düsseldorf is organising 30 additional buses, specifically serving both the North Entrance and the South Entrance of ProWein. These will operate on four specially established routes connecting key and high-frequency transport hubs:
- Main Railway Station (Hauptbahnhof) route, in addition to the non-striking bus line 722
- Düsseldorf city centre route, with connections to numerous hotels
- Oberkassel/Seestern route, also serving a wide range of hotels
- Düsseldorf Airport route, ensuring national and international departures
The shuttle services are closely aligned with trade fair opening hours and provide a robust alternative to the restricted public transport network. A detailed stop plan for all special routes is currently being prepared and will be published in good time. This will provide exhibitors and visitors with clear guidance on departure points, frequencies and pedestrian routes.
In addition, extra service staff will be deployed at key transport hubs and across the exhibition grounds to assist exhibitors and visitors in person. Further measures are being prepared on an ongoing basis and will be implemented at short notice if required.
ProWein will provide timely updates on all arrangements via its website and official social media channels.
Key Facts
- Strike date: Tuesday, 17 March 2026
- Duration: 3.00 am to 3.00 am (24 hours)
- Affected: Rheinbahn operational driving services
- No services: Underground (U-Bahn) and trams
- Bus services: Limited; line 722 serving the South Entrance will operate but is expected to be significantly busier than usual
- Network area affected: Düsseldorf, district of Mettmann, Meerbusch and connections to Duisburg, Krefeld, Neuss and Ratingen
- Impact on ProWein: Third and final trade fair day only
Measures implemented by Messe Düsseldorf:
- 30 additional buses
- 4 special shuttle routes (city centre, main station, hotels, airport)
- Detailed stop plan in preparation
- Additional on-site service staff
- Continuous updates via website and social media
