A small, local thunderstorm in the Lüneburg district of Lower Saxony has massively affected rail traffic in large parts of Germany. The consequences of the lightning strike on Tuesday evening in the municipality of Deutsch Evern in a tree that partially tipped over onto an overhead power line were felt throughout northern Germany, but also as far south as Basel.
Catenary and rails (symbolic image). Photo: dpa:
Long-distance traffic to and from Hamburg was particularly affected until the afternoon, as Deutsche Bahn announced. There were delays and train cancellations across all long-distance transport.
“The disruption is expected to last until late afternoon,” said a railway spokeswoman. The cause was a storm early on Tuesday evening. The railway said it was working hard on the repairs, but the damage was complex. The tree fell onto the tracks and overhead line system. As a result, the overhead line and the signaling technology were damaged.
Many long-distance train cancellations
Cancellations: According to information, all ICE trains between Hamburg and Munich via Berlin, Halle/Leipzig, Erfurt and Nuremberg were canceled in both directions between Berlin and Hamburg. All ICE trains between Kiel/Lübeck/Hamburg and Munich, which travel via Hanover, Göttingen, Kassel, Würzburg and Nuremberg, were also affected. In addition, all ICE/IC trains between Stralsund and Karlsruhe and between Hamburg and Karlsruhe were canceled.
Delays on many routes
Delays: According to railway information, all ICE trains between Kiel/Hamburg and Munich via Hanover, Frankfurt and Stuttgart were delayed by around 20 minutes. This also applied to all ICE trains between Kiel/Hamburg and Interlaken Ost, via Hanover, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Stuttgart and Basel SBB. All ICE/IC trains between Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main/Southern Germany that travel via Hanover, Fulda and Frankfurt am Main were also delayed. The train also announced that the stops in Lüneburg, Bad Bevensen, Uelzen, Celle and Langenhagen were eliminated.
Travelers to Hanover should use long-distance and regional trains from Hamburg to Bremen and change there. Anyone who wanted to travel to Frankfurt am Main should use the direct long-distance connections from Hamburg main station, the railway said. A ticket for Wednesday can also be used at a later date. “The train connection has been lifted,” it said. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge.
Restrictions also in regional transport
The disruption led to fewer restrictions in regional traffic. The route between Lüneburg and Uelzen was quickly reopened on a single track. A metronome train on the RE3/RB31 line ran every hour between Hamburg main station and Uelzen in each direction, said a spokesman for the railway company. However, there were partial cancellations and delays due to the backlog of waiting trains and the lower route capacity.
The starting point was the damage to the overhead line near Hohenbostel/Bienenbüttel, south of Lüneburg. 350 passengers had to wait on the ICE for hours until the train could be towed to Bienenbüttel station by a diesel locomotive late on Tuesday evening.
Helpers from the Red Cross provided the stranded travelers with hot drinks, snacks and blankets until they continued their journey. Many used the rail replacement service. “The passengers gratefully accepted our offer, but had their sights set on the buses provided for their onward journey,” says a spokeswoman for the DRK district association in Uelzen.
Cancellations: According to information, all ICE trains between Hamburg and Munich via Berlin, Halle/Leipzig, Erfurt and Nuremberg are canceled in both directions between Berlin and Hamburg. All ICE trains between Kiel/Lübeck/Hamburg and Munich that travel via Hanover, Göttingen, Kassel, Würzburg and Nuremberg are also affected. In addition, all ICE/IC trains between Stralsund and Karlsruhe and between Hamburg and Karlsruhe were canceled.
At least 20 minutes delays on many routes
Delays: According to railway information, all ICE trains between Kiel/Hamburg and Munich via Hanover, Frankfurt and Stuttgart are delayed by around 20 minutes. This also applies to all ICE trains between Kiel/Hamburg and Interlaken Ost, via Hanover, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Stuttgart and Basel SBB. All ICE/IC trains between Hamburg and Frankfurt(M)/Southern Germany that travel via Hanover, Fulda and Frankfurt(M) are also running 20 minutes late. The train also announced that the stops in Lüneburg, Bad Bevensen, Uelzen, Celle and Langenhagen will no longer be available.
Travelers to Hanover should use long-distance and regional trains from Hamburg to Bremen and change there. Anyone who wants to travel to Frankfurt am Main should use the direct long-distance connections from Hamburg main station, the railway said. A ticket for today can also be used at a later date. “The train connection has been lifted,” it said. Seat reservations can be canceled free of charge.
Restrictions also in regional transport
The disruption will lead to fewer restrictions in regional transport. The route between Lüneburg and Uelzen could be used again on one track. A metronome train on the RE3/RB31 line will again run every hour between Hamburg central station and Uelzen in every direction, said a spokesman for the railway company. However, there are still partial cancellations and delays due to the backlog of waiting trains and the lower route capacity.
