Train chaos between Nuremberg and Bamberg: arson causes cancellations!

Train chaos between Nuremberg and Bamberg: arson causes cancellations!

Train travelers between Nuremberg and Bamberg currently have to be patient. A fire in a track underpass in Markt Hirschaid is causing massive restrictions on rail traffic. The fire broke out in the Heinrichstrasse pedestrian underpass at around 3 a.m. on July 4th when pallets and wooden slats stored for a construction site caught fire. The exact circumstances of the fire indicate arson, which is why the criminal police are now investigating. The estimated material damage is around 25,000 euros, but could increase due to possible consequential damage, they report Augsburger Allgemeine.

The fire department had difficulty getting the fire under control quickly. As a result, the train route between Nuremberg and Bamberg is now completely closed until July 10th. This not only affects regional traffic, but also the ICE connections between Nuremberg and Erfurt. Travelers must therefore expect a diversion and an increase in travel time of around 90 minutes. The affected trains from Erlangen and Bamberg are completely canceled, while the S-Bahn trains on line S 1 only run to Forchheim and turn around there Northern Bavaria reported.

Consequences for regional transport

The chaos in rail traffic affects numerous connections. All regional trains between Nuremberg and Bamberg have been canceled, and lines RE 10, RE 14, RE 19, RE 20, RE 28, RE 29 and the S-Bahn lines in particular have to live with these restrictions. Instead, a replacement rail service with buses was set up between Forchheim and Bamberg. However, travelers should be prepared for the buses to be overly busy due to the high volume of traffic. In addition, due to roadworks, there are stops that cannot be reached, which is why taxis are being used on a large scale at the unserviced stops in order to defuse the situation.

These developments not only have an impact on rail travelers in Bavaria. The ICE trains connecting Berlin and Munich also have to expect delays and train cancellations. Passengers will face significant delays of up to 90 minutes until Thursday morning as some trains have been rerouted or cancelled, disrupting all travel plans Mercury reported. 

The responsible authorities are working hard to assess the damage and reopen the route as quickly as possible. Travelers are recommended to regularly check current timetables and the status of rail replacement services. Police are also appealing for witnesses to report their observations of the fire in order to further the investigation. The situation remains tense and many hope that the rail connection will soon function smoothly again.