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Blasting the tracks near Elze: Rails affected after freight train derailment!
On December 28th, 2025, a track blasting will take place in Elze (Hildesheim district) to repair damaged rails after a train accident.
Blasting the tracks near Elze: Rails affected after freight train derailment!
The railway line between Hanover and Göttingen remains closed after a freight train derailed near Elze (Hildesheim district). This is reported by the NDR. In the past few days, events have escalated: On Tuesday afternoon, a freight train carriage derailed, causing several carriages to overturn and causing significant damage. While there were fortunately no injuries, the damage to the track system was “very severe and extensive,” according to Metronom management.
Today, December 28, 2025, the damaged tracks will be blown up in order to repair the route as quickly as possible. The demolition is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. But the challenge is great: the tracks are under tension, which is not only uncomfortable but also dangerous when working manually. To ensure safety, a 300-meter restricted area must be set up and residents must temporarily leave.
Repairs by February
The necessary repairs to the track system could take until the beginning of February. It was originally assumed that the work would be completed by the beginning of January. In the meantime, travelers have to adapt to restrictions, which particularly apply to local transport. The federal police have now started investigating the cause of the accident. Preliminary indications point to an overheated brake, which was responsible for the smoke.
For travelers this means: The connections between Hanover and Göttingen are still severely restricted. Travel options are available every two hours with the Metronome RE2 and every hour with the S4. From Göttingen main station there are hourly connections with the Metronom RE2 as well as an emergency bus service to Banteln. Deutsche Bahn informs that long-distance transport is not affected and that affected travelers should find out about the latest information on the website, the app or WhatsApp.
Security situation in rail transport
The accident near Elze is part of a worrying development in the safety situation in rail transport. According to a report by the International Union of Railways (UIC) The number of significant accidents increased in 2022, after only a decrease in the previous two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UIC Safety Index shows that the safety situation remains below 2017 levels despite an increase in accidents. A serious issue that is of great importance not only for rail operators but also for travelers.
The situation surrounding the derailment in Elze once again shows that a lot of work needs to be done on safety in rail transport. It currently remains to be seen how quickly the damage can be repaired and operations can start again. A good time to consider necessary repairs and safety measures. Stay tuned for further developments!