ICE from Hamburg Makes Emergency Stop: 460 Passengers Stranded for Hours
Hamburg, May 2, 2026 – An ICE train en route from Hamburg to Munich experienced an unexpected and abrupt halt on Friday afternoon near Bardowick, a locality close to Lüneburg. The incident occurred when the train struck a torn overhead power line, forcing an emergency stop and leaving approximately 460 passengers stranded for several hours.
The journey, which was intended to take passengers to Munich, was cut short as the train remained immobile on the tracks. Federal Police reported that passengers were eventually evacuated from the stationary train on the open track in the late afternoon. They were transferred via connecting bridges to another train, which then proceeded to return them to Hamburg instead of continuing to Munich.
Medical Attention Required for Several Passengers
Due to the prolonged standstill and the warm conditions inside the train under the sun, seven individuals required medical attention. These passengers reportedly suffered from circulatory problems, with one person being transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure.
The evacuation process was conducted with extreme caution, as the overhead lines carry a voltage of approximately 15,000 volts, posing a potential life-threatening risk, according to a spokesperson for Deutsche Bahn.
Significant Disruptions to Rail Traffic
The incident led to considerable delays and extended travel times on the rail route between Hamburg and Berlin. Trains were rerouted via Hanover to mitigate the impact. Additionally, the Metronom regional train lines RE3 and RB31 were affected by the overhead line damage, resulting in massive delays and partial cancellations on the Hamburg-Lüneburg-Uelzen route. A rail replacement service utilizing buses was subsequently established to transport affected passengers.
Cause of Overhead Line Damage Under Investigation
By Friday evening, Metronom’s website indicated that the affected track was once again passable following the repair of the overhead line. However, the precise cause of the damage remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
Further complicating the rail situation, a points failure in Winsen (Luhe) also occurred on Friday evening, leading to additional significant delays on the route from Hamburg to Lüneburg. Bus replacement services were reported to remain in effect for the time being.
