A train in Wolfsburg gets on the wrong track when shunting. Some wagons derailed, rammed a power pole and tore down an overhead line – probably a million dollar damage.
Wolfsburg – The derailment of a train in Wolfsburg led to significant cancellations and delays on Friday. After the shunting accident in the early morning, long-distance trains could no longer approach the main station.
Numerous trains were diverted, as a railway spokesman said. Before the weekend, ICE and IC trains on the Berlin-Bonn, Berlin-Basel, Berlin-Amsterdam and Berlin-Frankfurt Airport routes were affected. Freight traffic was also affected.
After initial investigations, a train driver had overlooked a signal while maneuvering. The train from the Enno railway company ran into a so-called emergency track, which ends after a few meters. The first three wagons jumped off the rails, rammed a power pole and tore down an overhead line, as the federal police announced.
The derailed wagons then came to a halt on the gravel. The train driver suffered a shock and had to receive medical attention. There were no passengers on the train. According to initial estimates, the damage amounted to millions.
The rescue work lasted into the evening hours. Special vehicles and cranes were called in to put the train back on the track and to set up the overhead line. A railway spokesman expected that there could also be impairments on the weekend. dpa
