Storm Burglind halts German train services after fallen trees block key routes
Storm Burglind swept across southern Germany on 3 January 2018, causing major rail disruptions. Heavy rain and fallen trees blocked key routes, including the Konstanz to Radolfzell line. Authorities responded quickly to clear the damage and restore services.
A tree collapsed onto overhead power lines near Markelfingen early in the day. This forced the closure of the Konstanz to Radolfzell route until repairs could be made. No injuries were reported from the incident.
Train services between the two towns resumed at around 11:30 AM once the tree was removed. However, further inspections and minor obstructions delayed full operations until 1:15 PM.
The Federal Police Inspectorate in Konstanz intervened, halting all rail traffic in the affected area from 12:15 PM. Meanwhile, brief disruptions also occurred on the northern shore of Lake Constance, between Überlingen-Therme and Uhldingen-Mühlhofen. Services there restarted at 1:45 PM after crews cleared smaller blockages.
By mid-afternoon, all disrupted lines were back in operation. The storm's impact was contained to fallen trees and temporary closures, with no reports of injuries. Rail traffic returned to normal following coordinated efforts by police and maintenance teams.
