- Busverbindung: Montag chaotisch, Dienstag besser
Nach einem chaotischen Start in die Woche verbesserte sich die Lage mit dem Busersatzverkehr auf der geschlossenen Rheintalbahnlinie am Dienstag. "Es waren tatsächlich genug Busse da", sagte ein Fahrgast vor Ort. "Bisher war es angenehm", berichtete ein Schweizer Fahrgast.
Am Vortag sah es jedoch anders aus: Die Deutsche Bahn bat die Stadt Baden-Baden um Hilfe. "Die Situation dort war chaotisch", sagte Pressesprecher Joshua Treffert der "Badischen Neuesten Nachrichten". Unter anderem stellten die Stadtwerke Baden-Baden zwei Busse für den Schienenersatzverkehr bereit.
Das Bauamt verbesserte zudem die Beschilderung für den Ersatzverkehr. Dies hatte wohl zu einigen Missverständnissen geführt, sagte ein Pressesprecher der Feuerwache Baden-Baden. In der Hitze wurde zusätzlich Wasser für die Fahrgäste bereitgestellt. Auch das Deutsche Rote Kreuz (DRK) war im Einsatz.
Bahn entschuldigt sich bei Fahrgästen
"We apologize explicitly to our passengers who had to wait longer for the onward journey with a bus in Baden-Baden yesterday," said Deutsche Bahn. At the same time, the Bahn thanked DRK, fire department, and the city of Baden-Baden for the short-term help.
Numerous measures were taken to improve the situation. Accordingly, the number of buses in long-distance traffic was increased to up to ten per direction. Additional staff was hired and the route guidance was improved, it was said. In the future, buses will wait for delayed trains to ensure the connection for the travelers, the Bahn said further.
The Bahn is also in close exchange with the city of Baden-Baden, it was said. Especially in regional rail replacement traffic, the city will continue to support. On Tuesday, at least three buses of the Stadtwerke were in operation again, a spokeswoman said. This is to continue as needed in the coming days.
Construction work until end of August
The Rhine Valley railway line between Baden-Baden and Rastatt has been closed since last Friday. Until August 30, construction work will take place on the line as part of the billion-euro expansion of the Rhine Valley railway. Among other things, the southern end of the tunnel in Rastatt will be connected to the rail network. According to Bahn information, work is also being done on switches, signal boxes, and signaling systems.
The Bahn recommends travelers to use the travel information on www.bahn.de and to check the DB Navigator app. It has deliberately scheduled the work during the low-peak holiday period in Baden-Württemberg. "The alternative to the three-week closure would have been around 50 individual closures, for example, almost every weekend for a year", it was said.
Other buses were also brought in to assist with the rail replacement service, courtesy of other towns or transportation companies. The German Red Cross's involvement in providing water for passengers and offering aid was also crucial during this period.
