BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - In Germany, 84 percent more rental cars were booked for Wednesday and Thursday than in the previous week - probably as a result of the announced rail strike. In Frankfurt am Main, the increase in bookings was as high as 157 percent, according to figures from the price comparison portal Check24. There was also an increase in bookings of more than 100 percent in Leipzig, Berlin and Koln, according to the report on Wednesday.

Compared to the previous week, prices have also risen by an average of 23 percent nationwide. The biggest increases were in Koln (56 percent) and Leipzig (53 percent).

The German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) has called on its members to go on strike from 10 p.m. on Wednesday until 6 p.m. on Thursday. Deutsche Bahn expects cancellations on regional and long-distance services throughout Germany./ram/DP/stw