Weather - Freezing temperatures: rail traffic still restricted
Snow and slippery conditions led to obstructions on roads and railways and several accidents in large parts of Baden-Württemberg at the weekend. Restrictions on train services are still to be expected, a railroad spokeswoman said on Sunday. "The situation remains unchanged." After cancellations on Saturday, especially in regional traffic, travelers also had to prepare for some considerable restrictions on Sunday.
The south-east of Baden-Württemberg, especially the Ulm area, was severely affected. Problems included trees falling under the weight of snow and blocking the tracks. According to reports, trains to and from Munich were still not running on Sunday. The railroad asked travelers to check the internet before setting off. The train reservation has been canceled. Seat reservations could be canceled free of charge. In the Lake Constance district, the fire department was called out hundreds of times to clear fallen trees from roads due to the snow load.
On Saturday night, an ICE train coming from Hamburg had to terminate its journey at Ulm main station. There, the train was available for stranded travelers as a so-called "stopover train". Passengers who were unable to continue their journey were able to spend the night there. According to DB, the train was supposed to turn around in the early afternoon and return to Hamburg.
Several serious accidents on the roads
There were several accidents on the roads throughout Baden-Württemberg from Friday afternoon and especially on Saturday due to the winter weather. In Emmingen-Liptingen (Tuttlingen district), a 54-year-old man died in an accident on a slippery road. According to the police on Saturday, his car skidded and crossed into the oncoming lane. There it collided with a van. The driver succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident on Friday afternoon. The 67-year-old driver of the van was uninjured.
Three people were killed in a serious traffic accident in Helmstadt-Bargen (Rhine-Neckar district) on Friday. However, it is still unclear whether the weather was the cause. Three other people were seriously injured and taken to hospital. According to initial police findings, a 19-year-old driver crossed into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with an oncoming car. A 23-year-old female driver was unable to brake in time and also crashed. The three vehicles were totaled.
There was an accident on the Autobahn 8 near Leonberg (Böblingen district) on Saturday morning with one person seriously injured. According to police reports, a 42-year-old man skidded in icy conditions and crashed into a concrete crash barrier. His car finally came to rest on its side in the middle of the road and the man was able to free himself unharmed. A 45-year-old driver hit the broken-down vehicle and was seriously injured. The highway remained closed for around three hours for the recovery work.
Temperatures expected to rise over the course of the week
Winter maintenance work was also underway at Stuttgart Airport on Sunday and aircraft were being de-iced, a spokeswoman said on Sunday. Flight operations were running normally.
The sun did appear in large parts of Baden-Württemberg for the first Advent. However, the permafrost is set to remain - the German Weather Service (DWD) continues to warn of icy conditions. During the night to Monday, freezing rain is to be expected," said a spokesperson. Temperatures are expected to drop to minus four degrees on the Rhine to minus 20 degrees in the Swabian Alb and the southern Black Forest. "At such sub-zero temperatures, car batteries break down and gritted roads freeze again," he warned.
According to the information, dense cloud cover and warmer air with light precipitation will arrive from the west on Monday. Tuesday will also be warmer. "We can expect a change in the weather with a thaw," said the DWD.
Press release on the accident in Emmingen Police press release on the accident near Leonberg Press release on the accident in the Rhine-Neckar district
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- Despite the warnings from the police about slippery roads, some motorists continued to drive recklessly, leading to a few more accidents on Sunday.
- The fire department in the Bodensee district was kept busy over the weekend, responding to numerous calls involving vehicles that had slipped off the icy roads.
- In Munich, the smooth operation of rail traffic was disrupted due to the accident involving an ICE train coming from Hamburg, resulting in delays and cancellations.
- The spokesperson from the Southwest Railroad announced that due to the accident, the train services through the Ulm area would remain restricted for another day.
- With the upcoming weekend, travelers should be cautious while driving or taking trains as the weather forecast predicts yet another wave of freezing temperatures.
- On the way to Hamburg from Ulm, a disabled vehicle caused a minor yet significant disruption in rail traffic, leading to a delay in Southwest Railroad services.
- The Railroad in the Rhine-Neckar district reported a steep increase in accidents on its tracks due to the adverse weather conditions, emphasizing the need for extra caution.
- In the Raumschlacht county of Baden-Württemberg, police responses to vehicle accidents multiplied as harsh weather conditions made the roads treacherous.
- The Fire department in the Leonberg district had to assist a vehicle that had skidded off the road due to the icy conditions, highlighting the potential dangers of winter driving.
- The temperature in Hamburg is predicted to rise significantly towards the end of the week, providing some respite from the icy conditions that have been affecting the western parts of Germany, including Baden-Württemberg.
Source: www.stern.de
