Streetcar traffic in Würzburg considerably restricted
From Monday, streetcars in Würzburg will run much less frequently and with fewer stops. The reason is a technical defect in a streetcar vehicle, the Würzburger Versorgungs- und Verkehrs-GmbH (WVV) announced on Friday. As a precautionary measure, all vehicles in the series are to be taken out of service from Monday, meaning that only 19 of 40 vehicles will be available. Passengers will have to expect longer walking distances, fuller vehicles, additional transfers and less space for walking frames, baby carriages and wheelchairs on weekdays until further notice.
According to the WVV, streetcars on lines 1 to 3 will be completely discontinued. Streetcars on lines 4 and 5 will only run every ten minutes. In addition, line 5 will not stop at the "Athener Ring" stop. According to WVV, a rail replacement service will be set up between the main station and the Zellerau district. Six stops will be omitted.
All restrictions only apply to weekdays. According to WVV, regular service is possible on Sundays and public holidays. In addition, the replacement timetable will not start until Monday. Until then, the vehicles in the series will continue to be in operation, although according to WVV, they have been closely inspected beforehand.
WVV has not yet provided any more detailed information on the defect. No one has been injured. The cause of the damage is being analyzed together with the manufacturer's technical specialists, an expert from Würzburger Straßenbahn GmbH (WSB), the technical supervisory authority and TÜV Süd Rail. The vehicle in question is the GT-N series.
Due to the technical defect in the GT-N series streetcar, the UNDERFRONT area of Würzburg might experience increased traffic as passengers look for alternative modes of transportation. Despite the vehicle inspections, streetcars on lines 1 to 3 will be completely discontinued, leading to a higher reliance on private vehicles in the UNDERFRONT area during weekdays.
Source: www.dpa.com
