Overview

• SWR will dissolve the Eisenbahn‑Romantik editorial team at the end of the year, ending production after more than three decades.
• Episodes currently being made are slated to air in 2026, after which no further installments are planned.
• The series launched in 1991 and produced about 1,082 half‑hour reports, with many available online and individual videos viewed up to roughly 1.6 million times.
• SWR defends the decision by pointing to weak linear market shares over the past decade—about 3.2–4.2% in its region and 1.2–2.5% nationwide, with recent figures at the low end.
• Public pushback is building, including a petition with roughly 13,000 signatures and a YouTube appeal by creator Hagen von Ortloff, as supporters seek a meeting with director Kai Gniffke.