- Germany edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Sweden |
- Switzerland
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.
- Snow, sleet and fog signal start of winter - National (24 Oct 12)
- Electricity bills to increase by €60 a year - Business & Money (15 Oct 12)
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.
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 () »
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 () »
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 () »
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 () »
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 () »
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 () »
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 () »
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 () »
- 19/05 Police warn against high-tech Islamist attacks »
- 19/05 Some fear inflation if small euro coins cut »
- 19/05 Boy dies at Tropical Islands swimming pool »
- 18/05 Organic food stores expand rapidly »
- 18/05 Friedrich wants hate preachers expelled »
- 18/05 Russians top asylum seekers to Germany »
- 17/05 Burning ship had tonnes of radioactive material »
- 17/05 Two accused in neo-Nazi trial 'will talk' »
- 17/05 Look-alike prisoner gets cell-mate's release »
- 17/05 Holiday travellers face traffic trouble »
- Burning ship had tonnes of radioactive material »
- Giant Barbie doll house opens amid protests »
- No child support if dad is anonymous sperm donor »
- 'LHighlights
Latest news from The Local in France- 19/05 Ancelotti praises 'great pro' Beckham »
- 19/05 Disgraced ex-minister abandons re-election bid »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in NorwayMore news from Norway at thelocal.no
Latest news from The Local in SwedenMore news from Sweden at thelocal.se
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland- 19/05 Swiss to face Sweden in world ice hockey final »
- 17/05 Thieves pinch Swiss jewels from Cannes »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
See all ads | Join the Marketplace
-
PsyShrink Munich
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
Chambervelt Rooselain & Cie Ltd.
Insurance and financial planning for English speakers in Germany -
Shiply Worldwide Ltd
Shiply the Online Transport Market Place -
Weiss Institut
Free yourself from Smoking addictions, Sugar craving and Alcohol addictions -
PsyShrink Frankfurt
The Expat Psychologists in Munich, Frankfurt and worldwide -
British Corner Shop
British Corner Shop - The online supermarket for expats
Jobs in Germany, in English792 jobs available
611 new jobs this week
28 new jobs today- Analyst Predictive Maintenance (m/f)
- Trade Marketing Manager (f/m)
- Opportunity for Medical Information Scientists and Information Managers as Epidemiological Data M...
- Trainee to work in business development for Daimler Insurance Services
- Sales Professional (m/f)
- Finance Administrator (Account Payable & Travel Expenses)
- Customer Interaction Specialist for French, English (f/m)
- Marketingassistenz (w/m)
- Scientific Editor (m/f)
- Aftermarket - Process and Application Engineer
Blog- Apr/09 Touring Tempelhof – Europe’s Largest Historical Monument
- Apr/09 Spring in Berlin 2013 – Where, What Why and When!
- Mar/12 Living Like a Local – Tell us what you think and win a weekend in Berlin!
- Feb/04 Escaping the City – Our Recommended Suburban Getaways
- Feb/04 Berlin Tegel Airport Transfers – How to get into the City
EssentialsDating
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.RegisterRegister now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discussNews from the Goethe-Institut- “Preserve the proven, shape the new” – the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart
For more than thirty years, Helmuth Rilling shaped the international Bach Academy; now he is succeeded by Hans-Christoph Rademann. - ‘Open Mike’ – Fireworks with the Buddha
The Berlin ‘Open Mike’ entered this year its twentieth edition. - On the Stage, the Spoken Word Prevails
In January 2013 the annual meeting of the Dramaturgical Society took place in Munich; its theme: “Speaking on Stage – and about Theatre”... - The Magician of Images – Klaus Ensikat
With the technique of an Old Master and subtle humour, the award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Klaus Ensikat has for fifty years produced ingenious illustrations for literary classics and children’s books.... - A Picture Every Day – Philip Waechter
Philip Waechter, son of the famous illustrator and cartoonist Friedrich Karl Waechter, is one of the best-known contemporary writers and illustrators of children’s books....
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- Theatre festival between the Saar and the Mosel
The Festival Perspectives in the German-French region around Saarbrücken is staging European theatre, dance and music productions. - The European Year of Citizens
2013 is the European Year of Citizens. - Europe Day, Robert Schuman and Class 4a
Enthusiasm for the idea of Europe – in the 60th European Competition, schoolchildren from Germany show what this could look like. - Relief organizations
The portals presented here provide information on the help programs offered by different organizations.
- Analyst Predictive Maintenance
- Contract Manager
- Dipl. Ingenieur (FH) /Techniker
- Account Manager - Academic Sales - Germany
- Application Development Engineer Nutrinova
- Berater Regulatory Affairs
- Business Process Analyst
- Channel Sales Representative
- Clinical Physician - Leading pharma in Germany
- Clinical Sales Specialist, Haematology
- 17/05 paid internship
- 17/05 Florida resident seeks job in baden Baden Germany
- 17/05 Berlin Writing Group
- 17/05 cheap car hire
- 15/05 Queen size bed & frame
- 15/05 Feste Stelle
- 15:32 Let's cocktail! Ladies Night in Frankfurt =)
- 15:28 Is learning 'der die das' impossible?
- 15:20 Apple iPad mini
- 14:59 Meet up for indecisive 20-somethings
- 14:58 Doctor Who (TV series)
- 14:22 Formula One 2013 season (F1 motor racing)
- 12:33 M-Net not switched on due to Telekom delay
- 12:25 Neighbour wants me to take care of her kid
- 11:41 Cycling tours around Munich
- 11:28 Kitesurfing near Munich
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
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
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Your comments about this article:
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.