train accident - Goods train derails - S-Bahn traffic in Hannover affected
After a goods train collision at a level crossing, traffic on the S-Bahn in and around Hannover is normalizing but with delays. Affected are lines S6 and S7, according to Transdev's announcement. The temporary closure is "partially" lifted, the track is now single-track operational, a spokesperson said today. This results in delays. North-eastern of Hannover, according to Deutsche Bahn, a locomotive of a goods train derailed. Two people were severely injured, the police reported.
At Ehlershausen station, the track was temporarily closed, as well as a level crossing was damaged, the spokesperson added. The S6 therefore initially runs only between Hannover and Ehlershausen and back, a regular bus replacement service has been set up between Ehlershausen and Celle. Celle is regularly reachable from Hamburg with the Metronom.
Goods train cannot stop the brakes
A farmer lost an anhanger with a tractor on the tracks at Monday midday while crossing the rails, the Police reported. Due to burst air hoses, the anhanger could no longer be moved. The goods train with 34 wagons and two locomotives could not stop the brakes. The train hit the anhanger and threw it into a inhabited former signal box. The locomotive driver was severely injured, the house owner probably suffered a heart attack due to the shock. Both injured were taken to the hospital.
The signal box was deemed unstable by the police and is currently not habitable. The removal of the train and repair work are ongoing. The total damage is estimated by the police to be over 200,000 Euros.
Restrictions until July 22
DBInfraGO, the railway subsidiary of the S-Bahn Hannover, expects further restrictions due to the derailed train and the single-track operation until July 22, according to the S-Bahn Hannover. Until then, delays should be expected on lines S6 and S7.
Why the anhanger detached from the locomotive is still unclear and subject of ongoing investigations, the police stated.
- The level crossing accident involving a goods train in Hannover, handled by German Railways, has caused temporary delays on lines S6 and S7, as announced by Transdev.
- The damaged level crossing and temporary closure at Ehlershausen station have resulted in the S6 train operating only between Hannover and Ehlershausen, with a bus replacement service provided for the Ehlershausen to Celle route.
- Tragically, two individuals were severely injured in the accident: the goods train's locomotive driver and a potential heart attack victim from the nearby house, both requiring hospitalization.
- The damaged level crossing and track issues have forced the goods train to operate on a single track, leading to delays in train traffic, as reported by Deutsche Bahn.
- The dismantling of the derailed train and repairs are currently underway, according to the police, with the total damage estimated to exceed 200,000 Euros.
- The ongoing investigations, led by the police, aim to understand why the anhanger detached from the locomotive during the S-Bahn's collision with the goods train.
