Train failures in Ulm: damage to overhead lines causes chaos!

Train failures in Ulm: damage to overhead lines causes chaos!

Winter train cancellations and delays make life difficult for travelers in the Ulm area. The reason for this is damage to the overhead line near Amstetten in the Alb-Donau district, which occurred on Tuesday, August 13, 2025, while a freight train was traveling. For unknown reasons, the overhead line tore, which resulted in massive disruption to the railway line between Ulm and Stuttgart. The disruptions not only affect long-distance trains, but also regional transport in the region.

How SWR Current reported, travelers must expect cancellations and delays that could last into the evening. Regional trains on the RE5 line are particularly affected. The train from Friedrichshafen ends in Ulm, while the RE5 from Stuttgart only goes to Geislingen. Replacement buses were set up for passengers and shuttled between Geislingen and Ulm in order to ensure the mobility of travelers.

Repairs are underway

A specialized repair vehicle from Deutsche Bahn is already on site and is taking care of repairing the damaged overhead line. According to the information from Swabian Ideally, the repair work should be completed by Wednesday evening. So far, around 300 meters of electrical wiring has been damaged and wires with a voltage of 15,000 volts have been switched off and grounded for safety reasons.

In addition to the existing disruptions, there was another closure of the route near Stuttgart on Tuesday evening because an aerial bomb had to be defused there. As a result of these extensive measures, many travelers had to stop at Ulm train station and use alternative means of transport.

Travel recommendations and alternatives

Travelers heading towards Stuttgart have the option of going via Wendlingen. Due to the extensive disruption, passengers should inform themselves well before starting their journey and, if necessary, consider rescheduling their trips at an early stage. Deutsche Bahn has activated emergency management to secure the high-voltage line near Amstetten and to provide passengers with the best possible care.

Improvement is soon in sight: according to the current forecasts, a track is scheduled to be opened in the afternoon, which will hopefully ease the situation. However, it remains to be seen how quickly full operations can be restored. Travelers are well advised to regularly check the current status of trains.