Railway: Damage from storms stronger than expected
Created: 2022-02-20Updated: 2022-02-20 14:26
Deutsche Bahn employees are repairing the suspension of the live strand of an overhead line after the storm.
© David Young/dpa
The severe storms of the past few days have caused even more damage to the railway network than initially thought.
This was determined during further reconnaissance trips and helicopter flights, Deutsche Bahn announced on Sunday.
"Since the series of storms began on Wednesday evening, a total of more than 6,000 kilometers of the route network has been impassable," said a spokesman.
Berlin – 874 kilometers of railway lines are currently still affected by damage, it said on Sunday afternoon.
Especially in the north and north-east of Germany, travelers should expect severe impairments until at least Monday afternoon.
The train advised to postpone travel to and from Hamburg as much as possible.
In the meantime, however, long-distance trains are on the move again between Hamburg and Hanover - with a detour via Bremen and a 60-minute longer journey.
Since midday there have also been trains from Stuttgart or Munich via Cologne – Dortmund to Bremen and Hamburg.
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According to the railway, around 2,000 emergency services are on duty around the clock to remove fallen trees and repair overhead lines.
In view of the volume, however, this can only be done step by step.
Five special repair trains were used.
Among other things, the route between Hanover and Hamburg was extremely affected.
Rows of trees have been mowed down and damage to the overhead lines has been recorded for kilometers.
In addition, catenary masts would have to be completely repositioned in some cases.
In the Uelzen area south-east of Hamburg, the overhead line construction has to be completely rebuilt over a length of 600 meters.
dpa