Hanzelijn severely damaged by short-circuit in national grid

[DanielB]

This afternoon a short-circuit occured during works in a high-voltage substation in Lelystad, which couldn't be stopped in time due to a failing safety mechanism. This caused the 150 kV power lines, running to another substation in Dronten, to heat up, smolder and expand. (Source: Omroep Flevoland).
One of these high voltage power lines fell on the overhead lines of the Hanzelijn, causing significant damage according to ProRail (translated extract below):

A short circuit has caused severe damage to the railway infrastructure in Flevoland. A high voltage power line from national grid operator Tennet fell on the overhead lines near Swifterbant around 15.00 hours.
The incident exposed the infrastructure to an enormous current in a short period of time. This caused cables and switches to burn out and severely damaged equipment in a substation and a switching station.
Initial findings show extensive damage and repairs are expected to take a long time. The railway between Lelystad and Dronten will be out of service at least the entire weekend, but repairs will take longer.

This photo taken from one of the trains stranded due to the incident gives an idea of the severity. Passengers were safely evacuated although evacuation took some time as the buses were held up by road closings due to the failed power line.

 

[JustPassingBy]

Looks like a gigantic science experiment gone wrong: What happens when you decide to test miles of OHLE as if it were fuse-wire...

Look at this photo!

 

[DanielB]

That smoke is coming from the high voltage powerline, not from the OHLE it fell onto. ProRail just published some pictures of the damage in one of the substations, that looks like a lot of repair work.

 

[dgl]

Somewhat related regards power system failures but I know they had issues on the Isle of man during one of the hot summers where a solar farm got too much light and it's grid transformer got overloaded and exploded!

 

[Beebman]

NOS TV has a video at ground level of the fire in a substation and the smoking power lines:

https://nos.nl/artikel/2443055-na-kortsluiting-flevoland-ging-er-van-alles-mis

 

[DanielB]

From a car on the A6 this photo was taken, note the smoke from burning cables in the ground. At the location where the high voltage powerline fell onto the overhead lines it looks like this (note the burn marks on the tracks as well).

Update: Current prognosis is that no train traffic will be possible until at least September 14th 5.00 hrs, but according to NS the prognosis might be updated later this week.

 

[dastocks]

At least there is a fairly credible diversion available via Amersfoort for the long distance trains. I did Zwolle to Amsterdam that way (but changing at Utrecht) a few years ago when I found I had just missed a direct train.

If something like this happened on almost any main line in the UK passengers would be completely stuffed.

 

[DanielB]

At least there is a fairly credible diversion available via Amersfoort for the long distance trains. I did Zwolle to Amsterdam that way (but changing at Utrecht) a few years ago when I found I had just missed a direct train.

Still quite tight to fit them in the timetable... Zwolle - Amersfoort is possible with the IC to Utrecht following shortly after. However the diversion is mostly used during engineering works with the IC continueing to Amsterdam Centraal after Amersfoort (using the path of the regular IC 1500). Getting it towards Amsterdam South is more challenging as that would involve an additional train.
Today they are using a fast path from Zwolle via Amersfoort and Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol, but that's only possible as less Sprinters are running on the Gooilijn due to staff shortage on weekends.

 

[biko]

At least there is a fairly credible diversion available via Amersfoort for the long distance trains. I did Zwolle to Amsterdam that way (but changing at Utrecht) a few years ago when I found I had just missed a direct train.

If something like this happened on almost any main line in the UK passengers would be completely stuffed.

Today, no diversions via Amersfoort, so through passengers all have to change in Amersfoort. I read some reports that trains between Zwolle and Amersfoort were longer than normal, so that’s at least something.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Looks a pretty hefty repair job, including some very specialist equipment in the switching/transformer cabins. And it will all have to be tested before use as well, particularly if some of the installation has to be changed to allow equipment that is to be hand to be used. Perhaps Prorail have enough spare equipment to install to replace all that's been burnt out, but (more likely) that looks like a 4-6 week repair programme at best?

 

[AlexNL]

The expected reopening date has been pushed back to 3 October, but a ProRail spokesperson has already said that they've only done that so that people who are now planning their journeys for next will get an alert in the journey planners. The actual reopening date isn't known yet as damage is still being assessed, it's expected to take many weeks to repair. I've heard December being mentioned as a potential date, but it may very well extend into 2023 before a train runs again on the affected section of track.

 

[DanielB]

According to the media, repairs will take at least until October 3th. It might however take even longer as ProRail still hasn't completed their inventory of the extend of the damage.

 

[DanielB]

Another update by ProRail: reopening is now postponed to mid december. At the link is also a map showing what will have to be replaced.

 

[DanielB]

Today the last trial runs were completed, services on the Hanzelijn will be restored as of tomorrow.

Considering the extent of the damage, quite impressive they managed to repair everything in 3,5 months. Though rumours exist they had to finish today, as an event with VIPs celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Hanzelijn was already scheduled for tomorrow.