- A broken power line falls on the train track.
Faulty Power Line Halts Train Traffic Between Lübeck and Hamburg
A malfunctioning power line brought train traffic between Lübeck and Hamburg to a standstill for an extended period just after midnight. Around two dozen passengers were initially stranded in a regional express train due to a short circuit. Initial findings suggest that the defective overhead line caused the short circuit, and a power cable from the overhead line was hanging on the roof of the train, as reported by the Federal Police in Hamburg.
Emergency services were alerted by residents near Wandsbek station who heard a loud bang and saw sparks flying. The train tracks were immediately closed. According to the bahn.de website, regional trains between Lübeck and Hamburg were running again in the morning.
24 Passengers Safely Evacuated from Train
To prevent the risk of electric shocks for the 23 passengers, the train conductor, and the emergency services, the fire department ensured proper grounding in front of and behind the train. This directed the electricity away from the train's vicinity. The Federal Police spokesperson emphasized that even after the power is turned off, there is still a high residual voltage.
There was no danger to the passengers as they were protected inside the regional train. All 24 people were safely evacuated from the regional express and transported by bus to Hamburg Central Station.
No Indications of Deliberate Sabotage
The Federal Police could not initially determine why the overhead line failed. There are no indications that the line was deliberately destroyed.
The prolonged train halt was a result of an issue with the energy supply, specifically a faulty power line. After the evacuation, the 24 passengers waited for the restoration of the energy supply before they could continue their journey.
