Chaos in buses after train accident: mayor writes fire letter to Deutsche Bahn

Created: 07/11/2022, 18:16

By: Josef Hornsteiner, Laetitia Foerster

The rail replacement bus for schoolchildren who have to travel from the Isar valley to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is jam-packed.

A pure shopper.

Just so that the jaws don't stick to the pane.

Social worker Beatrice Schönauer on the situation on the bus.

© private

The current rail replacement service in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen after the train accident is causing chaos.

Children have to squeeze into overcrowded buses, sometimes they are not picked up at all.

Mittenwald – He's not coming.

It is 7.15 a.m. and many children are waiting in vain for their school bus at the Mittenwald train station.

The minutes pass.

At 7:30 a.m., the students call home.

The parents have no choice but to drive their protégés to Garmisch-Partenkirchen themselves: in private cars.

Where the rail replacement service ended up on Monday morning is a mystery.

This morning ordeal with full, delayed or canceled buses, annoyed passengers - the rail replacement service has been causing chaos in Garmisch-Partenkirchen since the train accident on June 3rd.

Since then, train traffic between Oberau and Mittenwald has come to a standstill.

A nerve-racking test for those who depend on the train.

After a train accident near Garmisch-Partenkirchen: rail replacement service does not come

Beatrice Schönauer is outraged by the current situation.

The social worker from Mittenwald is herself the mother of a son who regularly uses public transport to get to school.

A stress test since June.

According to Schönauer, an articulated bus should serve the entire Isar Valley school population.

“Almost 180 people would have to fit into the bus.

In practice, 80 to 100 sit and the rest have to stand,” reports the social worker.

In the aisles and in the entrance, the children almost squeeze themselves into the bus.

"A pure shopper.

Just so that the cheeks don't stick to the pane."

Children are not comfortable with the narrowness, they are worried.

Social worker Beatrice Schönauer on the situation in the buses

Nevertheless, Schönauer shows understanding: “Of course, the railways were not prepared for this, buses cannot be knitted.” However, the Mittenwald resident dares to doubt whether anything will change.

"As a parent you feel powerless." But there is also a ray of hope: With the summer holidays from August 1st, the rail replacement service should also come to an end.

The social worker hopes that something will happen in the six weeks.

"There is no alternative, the children have to get to school somehow."

Many complaints also in the town hall

Mittenwald's Mayor Enrico Corongiu (SPD) can also understand that the situation is not easy for the railways due to the tragic events in June.

"Nevertheless, we are unhappy with the rail replacement service." The train alternative leads to many complaints.

"In the beginning there were far too few buses, but that has improved," says the head of the town hall.

There was also a problem with bus drivers who were not familiar with the area.

According to Corongiu, passengers were sometimes asked where to go.

A big annoyance, especially in the high tourist season.

"Day tourists and last-minute travelers are put off."

Traveling at Munich Central Station is even discouraged - "an absurdity"

A full three and a half to four hours late are currently on the agenda.

At the train station in Munich, day trippers are even advised against traveling by train to the Werdenfelser Land.

"An absurdity." Information - none.

Passengers are often at a loss at the train station.

“Customers are left out in the rain.

Even on the internet there is nothing but train cancellations.” Locals are also affected by the restrictions.

Many use public transport to get to work.

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"It doesn't work to do something like that to yourself after nine hours of work." Corongiu doesn't want to stand by and do nothing.

Last Monday he sent an incendiary letter to Deutsche Bahn.

The demands: a reasonable rail replacement service, a reasonable information policy.

"That would also be an advantage for Deutsche Bahn."

Daily Jour Fixe with Bahn should help

The mayor of Mittenwald is already in close contact with the district office of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

The numerous complaints from passengers were reason enough to take measures to improve: Since Wednesday, June 29, there has been a daily jour fixe with representatives of Deutsche Bahn and the district office to rectify the individual problems with immediate measures and fine adjustments.

"Regarding the rail replacement service from the Isar valley, it was agreed that since Wednesday, July 6th, two school buses will run from Mittenwald at the same time in order to better distribute the capacities," says authorities spokesman Stephan Scharf.

At the end of June, some students from Mittenwald and Klais could not be picked up by the buses.

A replacement arrived too late.

After this incident, the highest priority was given to school transport, assures Scharf.

Since yesterday, even more buses have been running to Garmisch-Partenkirchen at shorter intervals.

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Deutsche Bahn gives reason for chaos

A spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn also praised further improvements.

The reason for the chaos is the resources: "The high diesel price and the nationwide lack of drivers in combination with the increasing demand for transport services after Corona are currently causing a massive excess demand on the market."

Nevertheless, the train operator tries to get the maximum possible performance on the road.

"Our current replacement concept is running until further notice and depends on the approval of the accident site by the public prosecutor's office and the repair of the route," informs the railway spokeswoman.

It is to be hoped that the situation will return to normal soon.

You can find more current news from the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at Merkur.de/Garmisch-Partenkirchen.