Bahn chaos in Cologne: Travelers experienced hell on rails!

Bahn chaos in Cologne: Travelers experienced hell on rails!

On Saturday evening there was a dramatic incident in Cologne, which became a chaotic experience for many travelers. An emergency doctor and an overhead line fire ensured that numerous people between Cologne Central Station and Cologne-Longerich were stuck. Michelle Wesendonk, a surprise reader reporter, describes her experiences during this unexpected waiting period in an impressive report. As Express , the travelers were trapped for three hours on an open route, which the nerves of numerous passengers strained strongly.

With a power failure that paralyzed not only the air conditioning and lighting, but also the toilets, the situation was anything but comfortable. Unfortunately, communication was also canceled because no announcements could be made. The fire brigade was finally used to evacuate the travelers. This motivated the transport of passengers to a waiting new train via the tracks, which was originally supposed to go to Düsseldorf, but ultimately drove to Longerich - a place without further traffic connections.

evacuation and subsequent return trip

The fire brigade built ramps to make it easier to switch to the new train. In the meantime, the staff supplied the stranded with drinks, which was a little ray of hope in view of the situation. However, some travelers, including parents with young children, were not very enthusiastic about the diversion and, despite the instructions on the staff, got back on the train. After about 45 minutes he drove back to Cologne Central Station, where the travelers had the opportunity to climb a crowded follow -up train to Hamm. Would old travel habits to be maintained in this chaotic situation? Michelle's journey finally ended after five and a half hours in Oberhausen.

such a chaos not only joins the tumultuous experiences on the train, but also falls into a larger context. Another incident in Berlin shows that it is not just Cologne that struggles with infrastructure problems. A cable shaft fire in Wuhlheide led to significant restrictions in Berlin regional traffic, such as TAG24 . Travelers had to expect strong diversions and delays there too. This shows once again that the railway is an unpredictable means of transport for many, especially when unexpected events such as fires occur.

additional challenges by warning strikes

Another aspect that influences the traffic situation in cities such as Cologne and Bonn are the current warning strikes. The ver.di union called for these strikes after the first tariff round was unsuccessful. This tariff dispute concerns around 2.5 million employees in the public service of the federal government and the municipalities. Here, too, the search is searched for a way out, because according to Tagesschau the union intends to fight for a better content of 8% or at least 350 euros per month and three additional vacation days.

The consequences are already noticeable: in Cologne numerous strikes and almost all buses were canceled, the citizens were dependent on alternative means of transport, while in Bonn modest bus connections were maintained by subcontractors. In North Rhine-Westphalia, garbage disposal and street cleaning were also strike. These strike -related failures are another disruptive factor in the already tense traffic in the region.

In these turbulent times, it may be time to think about travel planning, because with a chaotic rail network and impending warning strikes, the next trips in the Rhine metropolis could become real challenges.