Railway workers worked hard last night to repair the overhead lines between Arnhem and Nijmegen. It concerns about sixty meters between Arnhem South and Elst. The track will be reopened at half past seven and trains can start running again.
A night train to the Austrian city of Innsbruck was stranded between Arnhem and Nijmegen on Monday evening due to a defective overhead line. This incident trapped around 350 passengers on the train, who were not allowed to leave the vehicle, as ProRail has confirmed.
The train involved is a Night Jet that was on its way from Amsterdam to Innsbruck. The problem arose when part of the overhead line between Arnhem and Nijmegen broke down, forcing the train to come to a standstill. ProRail and the Dutch Railways (NS) have been busy coordinating the evacuation and finding solutions for the stranded passengers.
De spokesperson for ProRail reported that the evacuation started around 22.00 p.m. Various options were considered to help travelers as quickly as possible. “We are looking at what the best option is to help travelers get back on their way. This can be done by letting them board another train or ride buses. But then you must have enough places for 350 people. We are now looking for them," said the spokesperson.
The main problem for the train was the lack of electricity on the overhead lines, which made further travel impossible. Repairs to the overhead lines started immediately, but it was unclear how long this would take. The NS announced that no trains would run between Arnhem Central and Nijmegen all evening.
The situation became even more dire as the stranded passengers had to remain on the train until a suitable evacuation solution was found. ProRail and the NS worked closely together to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers during the waiting time.
After the railway workers worked hard all night to repair the overhead wires, progress was finally made. The defective section of approximately sixty meters between Arnhem South and Elst was repaired. By morning, around half past seven, the track is expected to be reopened, which meant that train service can slowly resume.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of the rail system to technical failures, and the impact this can have on passengers. The rapid action and coordination between ProRail and NS were crucial to control the situation and ensure the safety of passengers. The night train to Innsbruck is a popular choice for travelers looking to travel to Austria in a comfortable and environmentally friendly way, but this incident shows that even the best-planned trips can sometimes face unexpected challenges.
The authorities involved have now indicated that they will thoroughly evaluate the situation in order to better prevent future incidents and respond even faster in the event of an emergency. Travelers are generally understanding of the situation, although some expressed frustration about the long wait and uncertainty about the further course of their journey.
