Leiferde is a municipality in the Gifhorn district. The town, which has fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, is currently making headlines because two freight trains collided near the town on the night of 17 November. By Thursday this had already caught a lot of engineers cold. Why the train accident it did not take place on an insignificant freight route, but on the important east-west axis between the Rhineland and Berlin. The result of the accident: a course closure that lasted several weeks.
A freight train hit a stationary freight train from behind, according to the Hanover Federal Police. The approaching freight train was loaded with 25 tank cars of propane gas, with 2 tank cars overturning and another two tank cars derailing. The locomotive was also badly damaged and was lifted off the tracks. Leaks developed on two tank cars, from which propane gas subsequently leaked. In addition, the overhead line was demolished several hundred meters. The driver of the freight train (45 years old) was injured in the impact and was hospitalized. It is now clear that the error was caused by the dispatcher. Despite the busy platform for the freight train, he had given the order to continue, as the first investigations revealed. Because it is the subject of further investigation.
The result of the accident: the route between Wolfsburg and Hanover was completely closed in both directions. On Thursday it was not possible to provide information on the duration of the reclamation works and on the extent of the damage. In the meantime, however, it is clear that it will be days before trains can run here again.
The railroad initially said the blockade would last until at least November 20, and later until at least November 27. It is now clear that no train will run here before December 16th. The reason: you have problems, that Gas to be pumped out of overturned tank cars. Only then will it be possible to repair the damage to the track.
Closure of the Berlin-Hanover line: this is how the trains work
The problem for the train: In this case, it would normally divert long-distance traffic via Braunschweig and Wolfsburg. However, this path is due to a total closure construction works unavailable. The result: Numerous trains are completely cancelled, others are rerouted over a large area, for example via Uelzen.
These trains are affected
- The ICE trains NRW – Hamm and Münster/Westf – Hanover – Berlin will be rerouted and will be delayed by at least 90 minutes. The Wolfsburg stop is omitted. Alternatively, the trains stop in Stendal.
- ICE trains Swiss – Karlsruhe – Frankfurt (M) – Kassel – Berlin are diverted between Fulda and Berlin. Alternatively, the trains stop in Erfurt and Halle.
- The IC trains Ostseebad Binz – Berlin – Hanover – Dortmund – Cologne will be rerouted and will be delayed by at least 90 minutes. The Wolfsburg stop is omitted. Alternatively, trains stop in Stendal, Salzwedel and Uelzen.
- The IC trains Leipzig – Magdeburg – Hanover – Bremen – Emden – Norddeich Mole are discontinued between Leipzig and Hanover.
- The IC trains Amsterdam – Osnabrück – Hanover – Berlin are discontinued between Hanover and Berlin.
Rail alternatives
Deutsche Bahn recommends the following alternatives:
- Between Berlin and Wolfsburg ICE trains are used with an additional stop in Stendal. The RB 35 line connects Stendal and Wolfsburg (journey time: approx. 60 minutes). Buses commute between Hanover and Wolfsburg.
- Between Berlin and Göttingen ICE trains are used via Erfurt Hbf. Line RE 1 runs between Erfurt and Göttingen (journey time: approx. 100 minutes).
- Between Berlin and Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe long-distance connections are used with a change in Eisenach or Fulda.
- Between Hanover and Wolfsburg, IC trains are used to Braunschweig Hbf, while a replacement bus service is available between Braunschweig and Wolfsburg (journey time: approx. 60 minutes).
Diversions and delays will occur on other connections. For the Berlin – Hanover route, this means an increase in the journey time by 90 minutes.
If you are between Berlin and the north North Rhine-Westphalia If you have to drive, according to Bahn you should also consider a detour via Hamburg. If you’re going south of NRW, a detour via Frankfurt is an option. All tickets purchased before 23 November for travel until 16 December can be used flexibly. also until November 23rd.
