Rail service suspended in Cottbus city, leaving residents stranded and disrupting transportation routes.
Revamped Rewrite
Hopping on a train to Cottbus today? Think again, mate. A darn World War II bomb is getting diffused, putting a wrench in your travel plans. The main station is smack in the middle of the exclusion zone, so expect some serious disruptions.
From eight in the bloody morning, the Cottbus main station's a ghost town. That's right; the railway's shut it down due to the defusal of a 250kg aircraft bomb. Here's the kicker––the station won't reopen until around four in the afternoon.
So, what's a weary traveler to do? Well, the railway's rolling in buses to take passengers where the trains can't. But don't forget, bus and tram traffic's also restricted. Motorists better watch out for signs in the city center, according to the city's statement. By golly, over 1,800 locals gotta vacate their homes!
Bomb DfuSystem in Cottbus - Trains Bedeviled by Buses
Wanna know more about train traffic? The railway's said the station will stay closed 'til 4 p.m., and there's no train movement during that period. RE2 trains between Cottbus main station and Vetschau in both directions are cancelled and replaced by buses.
Same story for trains on lines RE18, RE13, and RB49 between Cottbus main station and Drebkau in both directions. The RE10 and RB43 trains from Falkenberg to Calau and from Frankfurt to Cottbus-Sandow will turn around, with trains on both lines halted between Cottbus-Sandow and Calau. The RB93 trains will begin and end in Cottbus-Sandow, while services between Cottbus-Sandow and Cottbus main station have been cancelled. Bus stops are situated along the city ring between Thiemstraße and Straße der Jugend.
School, Hotel, Nursing Home, and More Under Evac Lookout
The exclusion zone circles the station, the bus station, numerous office buildings, a hotel, a nursing home, and a school, according to the city's statement. Residents were supposed to be outta there by eight this morning, but the evacuation was still going on well into the day.
The Ordnungsamt is keeping an eye on evacuation proceedings, and road closures are in place. Information boards will be stationed in residential building entrances. A rescue bus will be stationed for nursing home residents, and the Lausitzer Rundschau building will serve as an emergency shelter. The fire department will set up emergency tents there, too. But remember, folks using the emergency shelters gotta bring their own grub, drinks, and medication.
Tram and Bus Traffic Feels the Heat
Cottbusverkehr reports that tram lines 2 and 4, and bus lines 12, 16, and 35, along with all regional bus lines with a stop at the main station, are affected by the closures.
The blasted World War II bomb of American design was uncovered last week during construction work on a railway site. A whopping 200 emergency personnel are helping with the defusal today, including peelers, firefighters, and the Ordnungsamt.
In light of the ongoing bomb defusal operation, the finance industry could be impacted due to potential travel disruptions and delays for businesses and individuals in Cottbus. Additionally, the transportation sector is experiencing significant changes, with trains replaced by buses and certain tram and bus lines affected by the closures, potentially causing delays in the industry's supply chain.
