Embankment fire: railway line near Eschede remains closed until evening!

Embankment fire: railway line near Eschede remains closed until evening!

The travel planning for many train passengers in northern Germany is currently upside down. The railway line between Unterlüß and Eschede in the Celle district has been closed since the early afternoon. The reason for this is an embankment fire that endangers the safety of the railway. Loud NDR No more precise information is yet known about the duration of the closure. An inspection of the overhead lines for damage is currently underway and the closure could last until late evening.

Long-distance trains will be rerouted via Rotenburg, which means delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected. Especially for travelers traveling in cities like Celle, Uelzen or Lüneburg, this means that they have to expect canceled stops. However, Metronome's regional trains have taken precautions and offer a rail replacement service, with buses running between Uelzen and Celle, with stops also in Suderburg, Unterlüß and Eschede.

Travelers in queue

Unfortunately, passengers report hours of waiting time due to the insufficient number of buses in use for up to 600 passengers. There is also criticism for the misleading information about waiting locations, as it is not clear whether you should wait on the train or on the platform. The metronome recommends travelers to allow more time for their journey.

In addition to the difficulties on the route between Unterlüß and Eschede, there are also further disruptions in long-distance traffic. A defective ICE on the connection from Hamburg to Munich had to travel at reduced speed to Eschede. There was also another incident in which a train had to stop due to a medical emergency.

A confusing situation

These completely chaotic circumstances are not uncommon in the German rail network. Disturbances caused by fallen trees and damage to vehicles or overhead lines are always on the agenda. The initiative Disruptions in rail traffic is a valuable contact point for information about closures and disabilities, which works on a voluntary basis and independently of the railway companies. Travelers are encouraged to find out about current restrictions on the route network.

It remains to be hoped that the affected travelers will soon be defused so that they can reach their destination safely and without further complications. Such incidents often raise questions about safety in rail traffic and illustrate how important a well-functioning route network is. We will continue to keep you updated.