Munich, September 9 – An articulated bus from the Munich Transport Company (MVG) became stuck at Orleansplatz early this morning, causing significant traffic disruptions during rush hour. The Munich Fire Department deployed a crane to recover the vehicle, which had driven onto a 15-centimeter-high curb.
Bus Stranded at Orleansplatz, Fire Department Mobilized
The incident occurred around 6:00 AM on Orleansstraße, near the intersection with Spicherenstraße. According to police, the bus driver failed to maintain his lane, resulting in the bus getting stuck with its second and third axles on the roadway delimiter. Fortunately, the bus driver was unharmed, and there were no passengers on board at the time of the incident.
“For an MVG bus, an unplanned stop occurred this morning,” the fire department stated in its report. The immediate consequence was a complete closure of Orleansstraße in both directions, leading to substantial traffic jams and diversions in public transport.
Complex Recovery Operation Due to Overhead Lines
The recovery operation proved challenging due to the presence of tram overhead lines above the stranded bus. To ensure the safety of the crane operation, an MVG traffic controller was on-site to de-energize and ground the lines. Firefighters secured the bus and then used their crane to lift it. Wooden planks were placed under the affected areas to create the necessary ground clearance, allowing the bus to drive back onto its proper lane under its own power.
The recovery efforts lasted approximately three and a half hours. By 9:45 AM, the operation was successfully concluded, and Orleansstraße was reopened to traffic. The extent of the material damage to the bus is currently unknown to the fire department.
Public Transport Severely Affected
The incident led to widespread disruptions across several MVG bus and tram lines. The MVG issued multiple alerts throughout the morning, initially reporting a “technical malfunction” and later confirming the fire department’s involvement. Passengers were advised to expect delays and use alternative routes, including the U4 and U5 subway lines.
Affected lines and their diversions included:
- Tram Line 21: Diverted between Max-Weber-Platz (Johannisplatz) and Haidenauplatz. Stops such as Wörthstraße and Ostbahnhof were not served in both directions.
- Bus Line X30: Diverted between Ostbahnhof and Einsteinstraße (towards Arabellapark) and between Grillparzerstraße and Ostbahnhof (towards Harras). Haidenauplatz stop was affected.
- Bus Line 54: Diverted between Ostbahnhof and Galileiplatz (towards Münchner Freiheit) and between Grillparzerstraße and Orleansstraße (towards Lorettoplatz). Haidenauplatz, Grillparzerstraße, and Prinzregentenplatz stops were affected.
- Bus Line 68: Diverted between Ostbahnhof and Prinzregentenplatz (towards Hauptbahnhof Nord). Haidenauplatz and Grillparzerstraße stops were affected.
- Bus Line 58: Diverted between Prinzregentenplatz and Ostbahnhof (towards Hauptbahnhof Nord). Haidenauplatz and Grillparzerstraße stops were affected.
- Bus Line 100: Diverted between Ostbahnhof and Prinzregentenplatz (towards Hauptbahnhof Nord) and between Prinzregentenplatz and Ostbahnhof (towards Ostbahnhof). Haidenauplatz and Grillparzerstraße stops were affected.
The MVG acknowledged the limited capacity of the replacement services, which included shuttle buses and free taxis, and urged passengers to plan for longer travel times.
By 10:05 AM, the MVG confirmed ongoing disruptions on tram line 21 until approximately 11:00 AM. However, by the time the fire department spokesperson confirmed the end of the operation to the AZ, traffic on Orleansstraße was flowing freely again.
Source: https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/muenchen/stadtviertel/verkehrschaos-am-morgen-muenchner-feuerwehr-muss-linienbus-bergen-art-1157139
