- The Traffic Resumes on Hunte Bridge once more.
About a month after the wreck, the Hunte Bridge in Elsfleth (Wesermarsch district) resumed operations. Trains are now running between Bremen and Nordenham, as per a railway representative's announcement. Surprisingly, the process went faster than anticipated.
Originally, the resurrection of this crucial route was scheduled for Saturday night's dark hour. The railway line plays a significant role in the left bank of Weser's port operations, and they heavily rely on this connection.
Misjudged clearance height
On the 23rd of July, an inland vessel bumped into the railway bridge. The vessel's bridge house took a significant hit, and the bridge structure and overhead wiring suffered damage. The ship captain's assessment of the clearance height proved incorrect, leading to potential hazards for both railway and ship traffic. Investigations regarding this misjudgment are ongoing.
Since then, the train traffic over the bridge had been on hold. The suspension had considerable economic ramifications on the region. Port operators of Brake and Nordenham estimated the losses at millions of euros and feared job losses as goods could no longer be transported via rail. Rail commuters shifted to alternate modes of transportation.
Replacement bridge before 2030
This wasn't the first time in 2022 that an inland vessel had damaged the bridge. The first incident in February resulted in extensive damage to the bridge's structure, necessitating the erection of a temporary bridge. Not surprisingly, that incident too pointed at the ship captain's incorrect gauge of the clearance height.
The most recent temporary bridge, which succumbed to damage, had been in operation since late April. If conditions allow, a new temporary bridge would be erected to replace it before 2030.
Lower Saxony's Ministry of Economy reported that a safety improvement team is currently drafting a list of precautions to enhance safety at the Hunte Bridge. Among other steps, the water level markings are set for an upgrade to prevent any more unfortunate incidents.
The suspension of train traffic over the Hunte Bridge was due to the damage caused by an inland vessel's misjudged clearance height on July 23. Post-repair, the railway line continues to play a crucial role in the left bank of Weser's port operations, with trains resuming between Bremen and Nordenham on the restored Railway.
