The rescue work is taking a long time
Photo:
APA/LIEN LIEN
DThe Vienna subway U6 has been back in operation since Tuesday evening after the nighttime accident involving a so-called track bed vacuum cleaner. On Tuesday night, the track vacuum cleaner went over on its side between Josefstädter Strasse and Thaliastrasse stations at around 2 am, making the route impassable in that area. No one was injured. Sometimes the Vienna fire department participated in the clean-up work that followed.
A rail replacement service was set up between Westbahnhof and Michelbeuern/AKH stations. A track bed vacuum – operated by an external company – is a device that removes the ballast so it can be replaced. The suction arm of the machine is quite heavy, which may cause it to tip over. The accident, which according to Wiener Linien was probably caused by an operating error by the external company, caused a break in the early peak. According to Wiener Linien, parts of the vacuum cleaner were hanging down to the side lane of the Lerchenfelder Belt, which was also temporarily closed for rescue.
The fire department secured the vehicle, which weighs about 20 tons with its body, using its crane and several cable winches. The device was then erected and put on the road in conjunction with the Wiener Linien. The track vacuum cleaner was towed from the scene of the accident late this morning. The track was then examined to see if it was also damaged in the accident. However, no impairment was detected. Therefore, operations on the U6 could be resumed in both directions without restrictions.
The Wiener Linien previously proposed a large-scale alternative, despite the replacement rail service. The replacement service ran at five to seven minute intervals. The intervals of line 5 were also consolidated.