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ICE route Erfurt-Nuremberg open again: investigations into arson!
Trains between Erfurt and Nuremberg again on the ICE route. An investigation into arson after the fire in Hirschaid is ongoing.
ICE route Erfurt-Nuremberg open again: investigations into arson!
Finally good news for train travelers! The ICE route between Erfurt and Nuremberg has been reopened today and the trains are running according to plan. The route was previously closed for around a week and a half after a fire broke out in an underpass in Hirschaid (Bavaria). The closure was lifted on Monday morning after the damage to the underpass was repaired, but restrictions are still possible in isolated cases, as MDR reports.
The closure represented a significant burden for passengers between Nuremberg and Erfurt, as they had to expect journey times of up to 1 hour and 40 minutes. In addition, the ICE trains did not stop in the cities of Coburg, Erlangen and Bamberg, which had far-reaching effects on the travel plans of many commuters.
Cause of fire in focus
The fire that led to this situation occurred in a pedestrian underpass and did not cause any injuries. A team of around 20 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire, which included burning wooden slats and pallets. Since the underpass was so badly damaged that the tracks could no longer be used, auxiliary bridges had to be built to ensure train traffic. The Bamberg criminal police have started the investigation and are investigating suspicions of arson, even if there is so far no evidence of a targeted action, as the Süddeutsche Zeitung adds.
Such a challenge in the railway sector is not an isolated case. According to an overview by FeuerTrutz, there are no comprehensive and uniform fire statistics in Germany that provide information about the causes of fires or the frequency of fires. Detailed and regular updating of such statistics could help to sustainably improve fire protection.
Operational disruptions and alternatives
Due to the events, the intercity trains between Jena and Nuremberg were also completely canceled, while regional traffic between Forchheim and Bamberg was completely paralyzed. In order to still give travelers an opportunity, Deutsche Bahn has set up replacement services with shuttle trains, buses and large-capacity taxis. However, these alternatives are heavily used, which has led to a “significant increase in travel time” between Nuremberg and Bamberg.
Passengers who rely on the routes have high hopes for the stability of the system, which is now functioning again. If all goes well, the past two weeks of disruption could soon be just an unpleasant memory.