The first trains are rolling again: Bridge chaos on the Ruhr-Sieg route remains!

The first trains are rolling again: Bridge chaos on the Ruhr-Sieg route remains!

Another ray of hope for rail users in the Märkisches Kreis: From Saturday, June 21st, the first passenger trains will be running again on the Ruhr-Sieg route. This important connection has been severely restricted since the beginning of June due to the dilapidated condition of two bridges near Lennestadt-Altenhundem and Welschen-Ennest. Rail users had to switch to regional trains, while freight traffic came to a standstill earlier because the bridges were no longer allowed to be used. The railway's fault portal had also reported a track closure between Kirchhundem and Lennestadt, which did not make the situation any easier. Radiomk reports that despite the resumption of traffic operations, the trains will initially only run at reduced speed.

The paint is off – the railway infrastructure is suffering!

In recent weeks it has become clear that the dilapidated railway infrastructure is a pressing problem that affects not only travelers but also the economy. Christian Betchen, managing director of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district railway, noted that the closures required additional personnel and longer operating times for the locomotives in order to cope with the diversions. This led to a backlog of wagons, which didn't exactly mean good business for the companies concerned. The Siegen Chamber of Commerce and Industry described the railway closures as bitter and an economic burden for many companies in the region WDR.

What will be done now?

The railway has already carried out temporary repairs on one of the bridges near Kirchhundem, which raised hopes of a reopening for heavy trains in the evening. These measures show that we are at least partially taking a step in the right direction. But the long-term solution for the two dilapidated bridges remains uncertain. Another re-inspection date is scheduled for Monday, June 23rd and is intended to clarify when freight traffic can resume. CDU member of the Bundestag Florian Müller is calling on the railway to act quickly and provide a clear timetable for the renovations. For Müller, the reliability of the rail infrastructure is essential for the economic stability of the region Radiomk.

The importance of the railway infrastructure cannot be underestimated. It includes not only the construction and maintenance of the railways, but also the management of operational control and safety systems as well as the handling facilities for passenger and freight traffic, as defined in the General Railway Act. A functioning railway infrastructure is essential for economic development and the connection of entire regions Wikipedia.

The current situation makes it clear once again that the course for the future must be set quickly. Only constant expansion and maintenance of the rail infrastructure will ensure that the economy in the region remains stable and travelers reach their destination safely.