E-bus brand in Elmshorn: rail traffic between Hamburg and Westerland is closed

E-bus brand in Elmshorn: rail traffic between Hamburg and Westerland is closed

In the afternoon of September 5, 2024, there was a dramatic incident in Elmshorn, which had far -reaching consequences for rail traffic. An e-bus that had set up in an underpass in an underpass at Elmshorn train station caught fire. Fortunately, the driver was unharmed, but the effects on the transport connections are immense.

The burning line bus led to a complete setting of rail traffic between Hamburg and Westerland. This means that commuters and travelers who are dependent on this important connection were significantly affected. Trains to Kiel and Denmark were also affected by the closure. Deutsche Bahn informed about the platform X that a bus replacement traffic should be set up to compensate for the decommissioning of the trains.

challenges in the extinguishing work

The extinguishing work was extremely challenging. A spokesman for the federal police reported that the bus driver may not really assess the amount of the vehicle, which led to the accident. After intensive two hours, it was finally possible to pull the burning bus out of the underpass. However, it was pointed out that the extinguishing of the batteries of the e-bus caused particular difficulties, which also complicated the situation.

After the fire, the federal police found that a signal box was also affected, which should probably contribute to the longer blocking of the railway line. According to the incident, the operation of this signal box is no longer possible, which results in the need for further reviews of the bridge construction above the underpass. Such damage could have long -term effects on safety and operating processes in rail transport.

The events in Elmshorn illustrate the risks and challenges associated with the use of electric vehicles, especially in urban areas where space and infrastructure are often limited. It remains to be seen which further measures are taken to avoid such incidents in the future and to ensure that rail traffic can be restored as quickly as possible.