Rail chaos on Sylt: Broken switch thwarts the plans of numerous holidaymakers

Status: 02.10.2023, 06:13 a.m.

By: Helmi Krappitz

CommentsShare

Not a relaxed trip to the holiday: A broken switch caused an hour-long closure - and train cancellations to and from Sylt.

Keitum – Whether it was a long weekend or an autumn holiday – many people were planning a little holiday this weekend. As always popular: Sylt. But instead of a relaxed arrival or departure, the train passengers were put to the test of patience. The reason: a malfunction at a central switch.

Disruption at switch: train cancellations between Westerland and Morsum

On Saturday, there were train cancellations due to repair work on a switch between Westerland and Morsum. This was also announced by Deutsche Bahn for the first time at around 18:30 p.m. on the short message service X, formerly Twitter. For several hours, there were no trains to or from the North Sea island. At the time of the DB report, many travelers had made their way home elsewhere, the Hamburger Abendblatt reported. According to DB information, replacement buses were used.

Numerous people were stranded at a small train station on Sylt. Reason: switch repair. © picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Bockwoldt

Repair work: Numerous people stranded in Keitum

Those who came from Hamburg were supposed to take the next train – but no one came that quickly. Numerous people were then stranded in Keitum. Subsequently, the rail replacement service brought more and more passengers from Westerland to the already overcrowded station. But even then it didn't go any further for her. The railway had to extend the closure to Morsum and later even to Niebüll on the mainland, according to the Hamburger Morgenpost.

Applause: Great joy at the arrival of the first train

Soon there was no longer enough space in the waiting area. Travelers had to wait outside the station of the small Keitum, the newspaper reported. After the repair of the switch was finished, the railway slowly gave the all-clear after 20 p.m. The trains were allowed to run, but were quite late.

0

Also Read

Trigema without Wolfgang Grupp? Children become clear

READ

Missing Marie Sophie (14) from Hesse dead: police continue to investigate

READ

Two-metre-long catfish eats bathing lake empty – it couldn't be the only one

READ

"Just run away": Bus driver exposes 42 pensioners on the highway – Alpine trip ends in fiasco

READ

Jan Böhmermann: Almost double the salary of the ZDF director?

READ

Fancy a voyage of discovery?

My Area

When the first train arrived in Keitum at 20:31 p.m., people were visibly relieved, the Hamburger Abendblatt reported. Many of the train passengers had been stuck in the small village without any information. There was great applause and joy when the journey finally continued.

But even the journey by car does not always promise a relaxed trip to Sylt. (hk)