Chaos at the train station: travelers stranded after freight train accident!

Chaos at the train station: travelers stranded after freight train accident!

There were significant disruptions to train traffic on Tuesday evening when Intercity (IC) passengers from Stuttgart to Zurich had to get off in Tuttlingen. The train was already late in Rottweil at 8:42 p.m., but the actual reason for the abrupt stop was a serious accident near Singen train station. During shunting work, a freight train derailed around 4 p.m., causing a power pole to collapse and an overhead line to be damaged. This led to the temporary shutdown of electricity throughout the entire Singen station. Deutsche Bahn (DB) reported that the affected routes cannot be used on Wednesday, including the Rhyhas from Singen to Schaffhausen and the Seehas between Radolfzell and Engen.

The situation required extensive damage assessments and clean-up work, with many commuters stranded at Singen train station. Walter Wadehn, who brought his son to the train, criticized the poor communication from the railway, as passengers in Tuttlingen received little information about the rest of the journey. Wadehn, his son and other travelers from Switzerland were forced to use an expensive taxi to Schaffhausen, the cost of which was 140 euros. “There is the option of claiming the taxi costs from the railway,” says Wadehn.

Consequences for regional transport

The disruptions not only affect long-distance traffic, but also regional traffic. The IC between Stuttgart and Zurich currently only runs between Stuttgart and Tuttlingen. In order not to completely abandon travelers, a replacement bus service was set up between Singen and Tuttlingen and between Singen and Thayngen. Passengers can access information about the disruptions via the train app, but the duration of the disruptions remains uncertain.

Long-term planning by Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn is also planning extensive rail replacement services for 2026 and 2027 in order to improve the quality of the rail network. DB InfraGO AG recently awarded contracts for this following a Europe-wide tender process. The companies commissioned include deu.mobil GmbH and go.on Gesellschaft für Bus- und Eisenbahnverkehr mbH. Almost 60 million bus kilometers are planned for the general renovation in order to maintain regional transport during the construction phases.

The planned measures affect various routes throughout Germany, including Hagen–Wuppertal–Cologne and Nuremberg–Regensburg. The DB has also defined uniform quality standards in order to offer travelers seamless and comfortable alternative transport. These standards are to be applied to the general renovation of the Riedbahn as early as 2024.

Given the current incidents and planned renewals, it is essential for travelers to regularly update themselves on the situation and consider alternative travel routes. The information provided in the train app can be crucial here.