Two months after the train accident: repair work begins at the scene of the accident

Created: 08/09/2022, 18:30

By: Andreas Seiler

Terrible memory: On June 3, a regional train derailed near Burgrain - here is an archive recording of the salvage work.

© Archive-Very

In the course of dealing with the train accident in Burgrain, there was repeated talk of the desolate condition of the Werdenfelsbahn line.

Now the railways have also admitted deficits on this point.

Extensive rails, sleepers, masts and overhead lines are to be renewed shortly.

Trains are expected to run again from mid-September.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen – The railway chaos in Werdenfelser Land has been making waves since the terrible train accident on June 3rd near Burgrain – and is followed by sharp protests.

Most recently, district administrator Anton Speer (free voters) and the 22 district mayors sent a fire letter to Deutsche Bahn (DB) and energetically demanded a concrete expansion and renovation concept.

There was talk of a desolate state of the rail network in the tourist region - an assessment shared by various sides.

Now things are moving.

Because the state-owned group admits deficits and announces “expensive repair work” that should start “shortly”.

"The quality in the Werdenfels network was recently unacceptable and in no way meets our own standards," says Klaus-Dieter Josel, Group Representative of DB in Bavaria, in a press release that was sent out on Tuesday.

And further: "We apologize to the passengers, for whom we unfortunately could not make a good travel offer in many cases."

Complex repair work around the accident site - Bahn is also planning an "extensive investment program" in routes

It's not just about pretty words.

After approval by the authorities, the route from Munich in the direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen is now to be brought into shape.

According to the company, around 700 meters of rails and 500 sleepers must be renewed around the accident site near Burgrain.

In addition, new overhead lines and masts are required.

According to the current status, as the DB announces, the trains will be able to run stably again for the most part on the main route from Munich via Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Mittenwald at the beginning of the school year on September 13th.

Most recently, after the accident in which five people lost their lives and several were injured, the nationwide special inspection of concrete sleepers led to speed restrictions and route closures - also on sections in the Werdenfelser Land.

In addition, as reported by the DB, there was heat-related material damage to the rails, which had to be repaired ad hoc.

According to the company, the group had therefore decided to retain the existing rail replacement services – including on the Murnau-Garmisch-Partenkirchen-Mittenwald and Murnau-Oberammergau routes.

This concept with replacement buses should initially apply until mid-September.

Massive problems with rail replacement services

Apparently, this isn't going really well.

The rail replacement service is "chaotic" and due to the many useless empty trips by taxis and buses it is "ecological madness", complained the heads of town hall in the most recent letter.

Her conclusion: the turnaround in traffic in the district could not be achieved in this way.

Be that as it may: DB does not want to stop at repairs.

In addition, an “extensive investment program” is planned.

This is currently being finalized and will be presented shortly.