Host Nation Update, April 16, 2025
Full closure of A81 Autobahn from April 22 to 23 – Abnormality discovered
Due to investigations by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service, the A 81 Autobahn will be closed between the Sindelfingen-Ost and Böblingen-Hulb junctions in the night from April 22 to 23. During a previous investigation, anomalies were found that need to be looked at again, according to the city of Sindelfingen. There is currently no danger.
With a few exceptions, the population of Sindelfingen and Böblingen is reportedly not affected by the measure. The people affected have already been informed and will be accommodated in alternative accommodation for the duration of the investigations as a precautionary measure.
Full closure until April 23
The A81 will be fully closed in the affected construction section from 11 p.m. on April 22. According to the city, drivers must be prepared for traffic disruptions from as early as 9.30 pm. From 10.30 p.m., the slip roads in the direction of Sindelfingen-Ost and Böblingen-Hulb will be closed. Traffic will be diverted from there. The closure will remain in place until 5 a.m. on April 23.
The city of Sindelfingen is reportedly keeping citizens informed via the city website and the city’s social media channels. A hotline has also been set up for citizens to contact with any questions. (KSZ, BB Bote, April 16)
Mannheim-Stuttgart railroad line closed from midnight until Whitsun
The Mannheim-Stuttgart high-speed railway line will be closed from Thursday night for a total of seven weeks. This is due to renovation work on a tunnel. The work will begin at midnight, according to a spokesperson for the railroad company. This means that the line will be closed over the Easter holidays and, as planned, until the Whitsun vacations in Baden-Württemberg. Tens of thousands of travelers will be affected by longer journey times and train cancellations.
Connection between Mannheim and Stuttgart ICE line closed for seven weeks – which trains will be canceled
Long-distance, local and freight trains will be rerouted until June 6. According to Deutsche Bahn, there will be longer journey times of up to 40 minutes. However, individual connections will also be canceled on this section of the route. The changed journey times are already visible in Deutsche Bahn’s booking systems.
According to Deutsche Bahn, the renovation work is necessary because there are problems with the geology in the almost seven-kilometer-long Freudenstein Tunnel near Knittlingen (Enzkreis). The tunnel runs through rock containing anhydrite, which has expanded due to water ingress. This has led to cracks in the tunnel shell in some places, said the spokesperson. The railroad is therefore installing wire nets to secure the tunnel ceiling over a length of 1,000 meters. The costs amount to around 7.5 million euros. (KSZ, BB Bote, April 16)
Severe weather warning for southern Europe: what vacationers should know now
There is currently a severe weather warning for southern Europe: anyone planning a vacation during the Easter break and traveling to Italy, France, Switzerland or the Balkans should be particularly vigilant in the coming days, as reported by several media outlets. Meteorologists are sounding the alarm – there is a threat of life-threatening storms, flash floods and landslides.
The weather in Germany also changes before Easter, but extreme weather is more likely in other regions of Europe. That’s why vacationers in particular should pay attention now. According to the weather portal wetter.com, up to 500 liters of rain per square meter can fall in the Western Alps – in less than 48 hours.
Graduate meteorologist Dominik Jung also warns of the extreme amounts of rain, which are highly dangerous. Unfortunately, fatalities cannot be ruled out in such storms. The meteorologist advises holidaymakers and travelers: “If in doubt, it is better to leave early.”
These regions are particularly affected by the threat of severe weather:
Northern Italy: Liguria, Lombardy, South Tyrol
Southern France and Monaco
Western Switzerland
Western Balkans
Campsites on slopes or by rivers are particularly at risk. The risk of night-time floods, slippery ground or landslides is particularly high there. Travelers should regularly check weather warnings and leave early if in doubt, explains Jung.
Tidal waves, landslides, floods: then there is a threat of intense rainfall in southern Europe
The most intense rainfall is expected from Tuesday to Maundy Thursday. There are then signs of a slight easing on Good Friday and Saturday. After that, the situation over the east could intensify again, depending on the position of the low pressure system and the accompanying peripheral lows, says wetter.com meteorologist Gernot Schütz. (T-online, April 16)