German rail operator Deutsche Bahn failed to halt a planned train drivers’ strike via the courts, when the Frankfurt Labour Court denied the company a temporary injunction against the union’s right to call a strike. The strike was not disproportionate to the circumstances, ruled Frankfurt judge Stephanie Lenz on Monday evening. The rail operator can appeal the Frankfurt decision to the state labour court in Hesse. The GDL train drivers’ union began its strike in freight transport on Monday at 6 pm (1700 GMT). Industrial action is due to start on passenger transport at 2 am on Tuesday.