Drivers in Holzkirchen are faced with a test of patience lasting several weeks: Because the safety technology has to be replaced after the railway accident at Thann, the crossings in Miesbacher and Tegernseer Straße have long closing times when trains roll through.
The Lochham and Thann crossings are also affected.
After all, security will improve there.
Holzkirchen / Warngau -
The serious accident on September 8th, when the car of a family from Baden-Württemberg was hit by a train of the Bavarian Regiobahn at the unbarred level crossing near Thann, caused three seriously injured people, including a baby.
In addition, a switch house was destroyed - and the entire security technology for the four chain crossings in Thann and Lochham (Warngau municipality) and in Holzkirchen in Miesbacher and Tegernseer Strasse were shot through.
DB Netz, responsible for the rail infrastructure, has now drawn up a preliminary repair and safety concept - and this has consequences for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
As a railway spokesman announced on Tuesday (September 22nd) on request, the crossings will remain closed for up to 15 minutes when trains come from the direction of Schaftlach.
From the direction of Holzkirchen it is five to six minutes.
"We have to do that in order to meet the relevant safety regulations," said the railroad spokesman.
When a BRB train leaves the Schaftlach station, the four crossings must be closed.
Drivers can use the B 318 and the industrial area north
This affects traffic particularly hard in Holzkirchen on the busy Miesbacher Straße (B 13) and Tegernseer Straße (State Road 2573).
Long closing times - usually three to four minutes - will block traffic for over five weeks until October 30th.
“We don't like that,” emphasizes the railway spokesman, “but we had to weigh things up and didn't want to hinder rail traffic any more.” Those who do not want to wait long before the two crossings can enter via the B 318 and the north industrial area near Föching Get to the center of Holzkirchen.
At the crossings there are DB staff who cordon off the train passages with a tape recorder, the railway jargon speaks of a “foldable barrier”.
At the end of next week, additional mobile traffic lights will be set up that warn with yellow and red lights.
After October 30, according to the plan, the Holzkirchen crossings should work again as they did before the accident.
Good news for Warngau: Two transitions get half barriers
Delays will be much longer at the two Warngau crossings in Lochham and Thann, presumably until spring 2021. The additional traffic lights will go into operation there as early as September 23, and there, too, one employee will be a “level crossing post” with “foldable Secure barrier ”.
Since the security technology is being completely renewed and modernized, there is also good news despite all the adversities: The previously unrestricted crossings Lochham and Thann will finally be retrofitted with permanently installed half barriers, and the mobile two-light traffic lights will be replaced by fixed variants.
As the railway spokesman announced, the completion of the new barrier and traffic light systems is not expected before April 2021.
You can find more information about the accident on September 8th and its consequences here.
