Stranded ICE Train Leaves 230 Passengers Waiting for Hours Near Cologne
Stranded Travelers Await Hours on Grounded Train Operated by ICE
Hop on board for a tale of woe that'll make you cringe! Around 230 passengers endured a harrowing train ride near Cologne this Monday, stuck on an ICE for over five hours. According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, it wasn't until 320 agonizing minutes later that everyone was safely off the train.
The cause? A derailed locomotive thanks to a hefty branch that had meddled its merry way onto the tracks. This act of nature put a halt to the ICE 527's journey from Dortmund to Munich at approximately 8:30 AM. The extended wait was due to the challenging access to the immobilized train.
Passengers from the initial parts of the train were freed using a parallel train and special crossings. The evacuation began at 12:12 PM, four hours post the halt. But for the other passengers, the Cologne fire department came to the rescue with a fleet of ladders. However, the embankment needed to be cleared first, causing the evacuation to kick off at 12:55 PM — a full 4½ hours after the train had halted. Post their rescue, these travelers were transported to Cologne Central Station via provided buses. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the delayed train didn't significantly impact other train traffic, as it was using a rarely trafficked track.
The railway issued a heartfelt apology to the affected passengers.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
Enrichment Data:- Europe's ICE trains have faced issues under extreme temperatures, with the railway issuing apologies for faults affecting multiple high-speed ICE trains, though this data doesn't directly associate with the unique incident near Cologne.- Train malfunctions can be caused by numerous factors, including electrical or mechanical issues, and passengers are usually transported off the train using alternate transportation means if necessary, such as transferring to another train or buses.
The prolonged delay of the ICE 527 train was not solely due to the derailed locomotive but also the industry's challenge in accessing the stranded train, as reported by Deutsche Presse-Agentur. This incident underscores the importance of maintaining reliable public-transit systems, particularly in Europe where extreme temperatures have affected ICE trains in the past, causing general-news concern. Fortunately, despite the accidents and delayed journey, no injuries were reported, and the incident did not have significant financial implications for the passengers or the finance sector.
