Catenary damage near Uelzen: Massive disruption to rail traffic!

Catenary damage near Uelzen: Massive disruption to rail traffic!

Damage to the overhead line near Uelzen is causing significant restrictions on rail traffic, which is affecting numerous travelers. All ICE trains on the Hamburg-Berlin route are canceled both in the direction of Hamburg and in the direction of Berlin NDR reported. This not only has an impact on long-distance traffic, but also on regional connections, including the Hamburg-Hannover route, which is also affected. For many travelers it is now a matter of rescheduling and accepting reductions in travel time.

Although the “InfraGo” technicians are on site and the repair is expected to take until the afternoon, the reasons for the damage to the overhead line are still unclear. In the meantime, delays of 30 to 50 minutes are not uncommon, and stops in cities such as Celle, Uelzen and Lüneburg are completely eliminated. Travelers from Hamburg are being asked to travel via Hanover instead, which doesn't exactly ease the situation, as these connections are also likely to be very busy.

Regional transport and alternatives

In addition, passengers who want to go to Celle and Lüneburg should switch to regional trains. As the Metronom Railway Company reports, there are also disruptions on the RE3 and RB3 lines. Rail replacement services have been set up between Bad Bevensen and Uelzen, with train drivers taking taxis back and forth between the stations, which can cause additional delays.

The Metronome line RE4/RB41 between Hamburg and Bremen has also not been spared from delays and cancellations. For travelers who want to go from Hanover to Hamburg, there is the option of switching via Bremen. The question remains how long the current situation will last.

Review of previous incidents

The difficulties with overhead lines are not new. On August 16, around 600 passengers on an ICE train in Cologne had to wait for hours to get on when the train crashed into a power pole. The evacuation was lengthy and it took many hours for the passengers to be taken to the train station by bus. Interestingly, the incident did not have a serious impact on track traffic as trains were able to be rerouted, even if they had to move more slowly. However, it remains to be seen how long the affected area near Uelzen will actually be closed, as these types of problems can quickly become stressful for travelers.

Interested passengers can use the attractive platform for up-to-date information on delays and route interruptions bahn.de to use. Here you can find both disruption maps and real-time positions of trains as well as departure boards and notifications about delays. This way you are always up to date and can make the best decision for your trip.