Boat versus bridge in Germany

[Groningen]

The Friesenbruecke in Weener was hit by a boat. Damage is large; there need to be busses between Weener and Leer (Ostfriesland). Trains end and start in Groningen (Netherlands) and are run by Arriva.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The Friesenbruecke in Weener was hit by a boat. Damage is large; there need to be busses between Weener and Leer (Ostfriesland). Trains end and start in Groningen (Netherlands) and are run by Arriva.

Now that is one serious bridge strike!

Could it be that some captains of ships in Germany have a similar attitude to rail bridges as some truck drivers do in the UK?

 

[EM2]

FIVE YEARS to fix it apparently!

 

[CarltonA]

FIVE YEARS to fix it apparently!

What about this one then? They gave up and scrapped it altogether.

http://www.severntales.co.uk/severn-bridge-disaster.html

 

[Groningen]

It appears that at least 1 Arrivatrain is at the wrong side of the bridge; so in Leer (Ostfriesland). So; to come back to Groningen it will need to run to Salzbergen and than reverse to Bad Bentheim and Hengelo. All in all a run of say about 4 hours. I hope it has enough fuel on board!

 

[Ash Bridge]

It appears that at least 1 Arrivatrain is at the wrong side of the bridge; so in Leer (Ostfriesland). So; to come back to Groningen it will need to run to Salzbergen and than reverse to Bad Bentheim and Hengelo. All in all a run of say about 4 hours. I hope it has enough fuel on board!

Very fortunate there was no rail traffic crossing at the time of impact.

Edit: just after typing this a news report has just been shown here on BBC Breakfast News.

 

[Trainfan344]

BBC have put a short video on showing damage to the ship!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35014755

A cargo ship rammed a railway bridge spanning the Ems river in northwest Germany.
The ship somehow managed to plough through the closed bridge. It is unclear if there was a mechanical fault on the vessel or if the bridge failed to open when it was supposed to.
No one was hurt in the incident by authorities say the bridge is so badly damaged that it cannot be repaired and a new one will take years to build.

 

[jopsuk]

FIVE YEARS to fix it apparently!

It's badly damaged the spans either side and may have damaged the piers. Ad to that changes in design standards; it'll likely need to be designed from the ground up as a completely new bridge and the remains of the existing bridge will need to be demolished. The five years will include a lengthy design phase

 

[Groningen]

It appears that for trains there is a 15 minute window to pass the bridge. So Weener departure to Leer is at 20 to Leer; then on the mainline Norddeich Mole - Muenster (Westfalen) the Arriva trains pass each other and at 40 the opposite train arrives in Weener to go to Groningen.

So on the BBC; must be the first time that such an area gets some attention from the British. Where is CNN if you need them?!

Youtube: Friesenbruecke, Weener > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiNf8ICFP1w

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Now that is one heck of an insurance claim...

 

[Groningen]

Yes; we in the Netherlands still have Ceefax. Imagine that the following message will be on Ceefax for the next 5 years (or even more). But that is something that will happen!

http://nos.nl/teletekst#754

Bad Nieuweschans-Leer tot nader bericht
* Er rijden geen treinen tussen Bad Nieuweschans en Leer.
* Er rijden bussen.
* Extra reistijd: 15 tot 30 minuten.

Translation:
Bad Nieuweschans-Leer until further notice
* There are no trains between Bad Nieuweschans and Leer.
* There are busses.
* Extra traveltime: 15 to 30 minutes