• Germany edition
National
Photo: DPA

A third of trains 'may be cancelled' this winter

Published: 25 Oct 12 10:49 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20121025-45775.html

Millions of train passengers in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) could be faced with disrupted journeys this winter if a regional coal plant is shut down as planned - causing power shortages, a rail boss warned on Thursday.

Up to 30 percent of trains in the northwestern state could be cancelled in very cold weather over the next few months, Deutsche Bahn (DB) chairman Rüdiger Grube told the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on Thursday.

Currently the Datteln coal plant - scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of December - delivers three quarters of the electricity used DB trains in the state.

Electricity from the old coal plant guaranteed the smooth running of the rail network, especially on cold days, when its electricity demand skyrockets, said Grube.

"If decommissioning goes ahead and nothing happens, there's a big danger that the rail [network] could have bottlenecks in supply on very cold winter days in the morning," he warned.

"In such cases we have to take trains out [of service] to avoid the network collapsing. We discussed it with the board: it could be up to 30 percent of the train operation in NRW," he said.

The connection of Datteln IV, a replacement power plant, to the grid has been delayed by planning problems and has become stuck in a legal battle.

Meanwhile, Grube said DB was working on building converters to smooth out electricity supply from other sources for use by trains - which require a different frequency than households and industry.

But they would not be ready before until early 2014 and Grube has demanded plant operator E.ON be given an exceptional permit to continue running the older coal plant beyond the end of the year.

The Local/jlb

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

11:56 October 25, 2012 by lucksi
So, on paper you decommission an old power plant right when a new one goes online. Perfect. Missing from that was of course reality, because no big construction gets done on time anymore.
12:05 October 25, 2012 by chicagolive
That is what I was thinking, from the Berlin Airport to Stuttgart 21 I don't see any big project in Germany ending even close to own time more like a year or more after the time.
13:01 October 25, 2012 by freechoice
And this is happening in one of the world's developed country/economy?
16:10 October 25, 2012 by catjones
germany: the land of threats, intimidation, fear-mongering, bullies and litigation.
16:50 October 25, 2012 by raandy
Necessity is the mother of invention.
17:19 October 25, 2012 by hech54
"The connection of Datteln IV, a replacement power plant, to the grid has been delayed by planning problems and has become stuck in a legal battle." - a legal battle where a coal company is involved at one end I'd venture to say.
22:41 October 25, 2012 by trommlers
when will the Germans stand up and put an end to the Deutsche Bahn monopoly???
23:37 October 25, 2012 by truth is treason
I wonder if the "The connection of Datteln IV, a replacement power plant, to the grid has been delayed by planning problems and has become stuck in a legal battle." is due to the Greens and the UN agenda21 supporters. So all the wind turbines and solar panels installed cannot replace a single power plant. Just to place our hopes in these useless experiment will lead to the break down of life as we know it. Build your own power plant to run your own home ,business and community. Ask your commune to plan and build local power plant and companies
14:45 October 26, 2012 by Voice
I see someone here believes that ending the DB monopoly and having private rail companies would somehow solve such problems. In actual fact it would be far worse as a collection of smaller companies would have far less clout. And most people wouldn't want a repeat of Britain's nightmare either - with fares three or four times higher than on DB, significantly more delays, and everything pared back to the bone, while still having to pay subsidies through taxes to the rail companies who in turn hand over dividends to their shareholders. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Germany, please don't do it. As for the power crisis, that's down to politicians screwing things up not the fact that DB has a monopoly.
14:53 October 26, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
I hope the third that are cancelled are the ones that break down and don't run anyway in winter.
08:33 October 29, 2012 by strahlungsamt
Germany used to be a great nation that performed engineering feats and got things done. Now, they've gone the Neoliberal American way and sold out to bean-counters and consultants and let the system go to hell to save a few euros.

I was recently in Berlin and I had to wait 90 minutes for a train from Schonefeld airport. Then a 20 minute wait for an S-Bahn from Alexanderplatz to Friedrichstrasse, 2 stations away in the city center on a track where about 6 different lines travel. All because they chose to cut back on repair facilities for the trains to save money. In 2009, almost the entire S-Bahn fleet had to be taken out of service for safety reasons, all because they chose to save money. Recently, someone's arm got stuck in the door and was snapped off because the safety in the doors didn't work, all to save money.

Oh, and it's not like they don't have the money. The DB gets the most cash from the German govt of any agency and they had no problem building the ridiculous, unneeded Berlin Hauptbahnhof or destroying the Stuttgart inner city for Stuttgart 21.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Did Merkel's politics hurt Germany at Eurovision?

Eurovision Song Contest favourite Denmark won the competition on Saturday night, while Germany plunged to 21st place – the worst showing in five years – amidst speculation that it was payback for Angela Merkel’s hated policies. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Police warn against high-tech Islamist attacks

The Federal Criminal Police Office is warning of a new type of Islamist terrorist threat from the air that could attack both passenger and cargo planes as well as airport facilities, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Some fear inflation if small euro coins cut

European Union proposals to eliminate one and two cent euro coins is annoying some Germans, including a few at the Bundesbank, while others think an EU idea to introduce one and two-euro notes is a good one. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Boy dies at Tropical Islands swimming pool

A 15-year-old boy died on Saturday at the popular “Tropical Islands” swimming and entertainment centre outside of Berlin, the Bild newspaper reported. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Wagner descendant slams composer

As the musical world lavishly celebrates Richard Wagner's bicentenary, the composer's great-grandson insists he is no spoilsport by denouncing the German master as a narcissist, woman-hater and an anti-Semite. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Bayern wins, Dortmund loses ahead of CL Final

If Saturday’s play was any barometer of what may happen at the Champions League final this coming Saturday, then Borussia Dortmund should be very nervous indeed. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Most Germans optimistic about the future

Although less than 50 percent of Germans are optimistic about their current situation, more than half think their future will be better and the number of pessimists in the country dropped, a survey released on Saturday showed. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Organic food stores expand rapidly

Organic food and health stores are undergoing a hefty expansion in Germany, with the Vitalia chain taking over several locations from the bankrupt Schlecker drugstore chain in Munich alone. READ () »

More National
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
  1. Burning ship had tonnes of radioactive material »
  2. Giant Barbie doll house opens amid protests »
  3. No child support if dad is anonymous sperm donor »
  4. 'L
    Highlights
    Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: M&S Photo: Private Photo: Katie Needs Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: A Peoples' Picture Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: Private Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Photo: DPA Furniture Leasing Corporation Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se



    Latest news from The Local in France

    More news from France at thelocal.fr

    Latest news from The Local in Norway

    More news from Norway at thelocal.no

    Latest news from The Local in Sweden

    More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

    Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

    More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

    See all ads | Join the Marketplace

    Jobs in Germany, in English

    792 jobs available
    611 new jobs this week
    28 new jobs today

    ALL JOBS »

    Blog
    Essentials

    Dating
    Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

    Weather
    "After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

    Blog
    German stuff that's distracting us today.

    Noticeboard
    Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

    Discuss
    Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

    Search News


    Register

    Register now for:
    > Free use of noticeboard
    > Special discounts
    > Weekly news roundup
    > Unlimited use of discuss

    REGISTER FOR FREE »

    News from the Goethe-Institut
    News from Young Germany
    • German first feature film in Cannes
      A directorial debut from Germany makes it to the competition “Un Certain Regard” at the famous film festival on the Côte d’Azur.
    • Traveling Germany: Europa-Park
      Think theme parks:Roller coasters, colorful rides, entertainment, thrills. Think Germany: Europa-Park is the largest amusement park in the country, second in Europe only to Disneyland Paris.
    • Frankfurt – the digital hub
      The Internet hub in Frankfurt am Main is the largest in the world and places Germany in a leading position in the digital world.
    • The European Year of Citizens
      2013 is the European Year of Citizens. They‘re invited to contribute their ideas for the EU, and to discover more about their rights as EU citizens. An example: labour mobility.
    • Neuschwanstein Castle: In Photos
      Neuschwanstein is the most popular tourist attraction in Germany. And for good reason. King Ludwig II's castle looks like it fell out of a book of fairy tales.
    News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.