Thousands of Oktoberfest visitors affected on their way home: main route suddenly closed on Saturday evening

Status: 24.09.2023, 11:16 a.m.

By: Lucas Sauter Orengo

CommentsShare

The Federal Police at the Hackerbrücke. © Federal police

Late on Saturday evening (23 September), a worst-case scenario occurred for many Oktoberfest visitors: the main line of the S-Bahn was suddenly closed.

Munich – Worst-case scenario for Oktoberfest visitors late on Saturday evening: A rail break in Laim had led to an interruption of S-Bahn traffic at 00:40 a.m. This affected the entire trunk line between Ostbahnhof and Pasing. Immediately after the incident, the entrances to the exits at the Hackerbrücke to the platform were cordoned off by the security personnel of Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Police. In addition, it was necessary to evacuate the platform via the stairways, since the duration of the interruption of traffic was uncertain.

S-Bahn trunk speech closed on Saturday evening: Oktoberfest visitors must be diverted

The high number of Oktoberfest visitors streaming from the Theresienwiese required comprehensive information and forwarding of all passengers about the platform closure and the S-Bahn cancellation. The loudspeaker vehicle of the Federal Police (LauKW) was used to transmit announcements, including recommendations for onward travel. The S-Bahn München GmbH organized a rail replacement service from Munich Central Station.

Technicians from Deutsche Bahn were able to rectify the malfunction shortly after 3 a.m. As a result, the S-Bahn resumed operations.