Major German railway line has experienced a shutdown!
The Berlin-Munich ICE (InterCity Express) connection, Germany's most important railway line, has been hit by severe disruption following an arson attack on a railway underpass in Hirschaid, Bavaria. The incident has led to a complete closure of a key section on the Berlin-Munich high-speed rail axis, causing significant delays, rerouting of ICE trains with extended travel times, suspension of affected regional train lines, and closure of multiple stations until repairs can be completed by July 10, 2022.
The arsonist set fire to pallets and planks in the Heinrichstraße underpass in Hirschaid, causing extensive damage to the infrastructure. The fire brigade extinguished the fire, but the damage is estimated at 25,000 euros. The Criminal Police Office in Bamberg has taken up the investigation into the arson in Hirschaid, and witnesses are asked to call 0951-9129491.
As a result of the closure, ICE trains and other long-distance trains on the Berlin–Munich route are being diverted, adding approximately 90 minutes to journey times. Some stations, including Erlangen and Bamberg, are not being served by these diverted trains. Regional train services between Nuremberg and Bamberg are suspended, with the S1 line terminating early at Forchheim.
Replacement buses operate between Forchheim and Bamberg but do not stop at intermediate stations like Strullendorf and Hirschaid due to roadworks; taxis are provided for these stops. Passengers on regional trains are advised to take alternative routes via Würzburg, using different regional services to connect between Nuremberg and Bamberg.
Certain IC services between Leipzig and Nuremberg, and some services between Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe and Gera, have been cancelled. The closure of the track has resulted in significant delays on one of the busiest routes in German long-distance traffic.
An expert found severe damage to the affected bridge in Hirschaid, and the closure of the track is lasting well into the new week. Stops in Erlangen and Bamberg on the ICE line are cancelled, and passengers are advised to check the Deutsche Bahn website for updates on their journeys.
This incident has disrupted both long-distance and regional rail traffic severely. However, no other unrelated incidents, such as the Munich derailment or attacks on trains, directly impact this particular ICE connection. The current disruption is specifically due to the suspected arson in Hirschaid affecting the infrastructure on this route.
A rail replacement service (RRS) with buses has been set up for the affected ICE connection. Passengers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and allow extra time for travel due to the delays and rerouting. The ICE connection between Berlin and Munich is a crucial link between two major metropolises, and the disruption caused by the arson attack is expected to have a significant impact on travel plans for the coming weeks.
- The arson attack on a railway underpass in Hirschaid, Bavaria, has caused severe disruption on Germany's most important railway line, the Berlin-Munich ICE connection, which is a crucial link between two major metropolises.
- The incident, resulting from an arsonist setting fire to pallets and planks in the Heinrichstraße underpass, has led to a complete closure of a key section on the Berlin-Munich high-speed rail axis.
- The disruption has affected not only long-distance trains on the Berlin–Munich route but also regional train services between Nuremberg and Bamberg, with the S1 line terminating early at Forchheim.
- In an effort to compensate for the closure, a rail replacement service (RRS) with buses has been set up for the affected ICE connection, and passengers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly, allowing extra time for travel due to the delays and rerouting.
