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Large construction site instead of train traffic: Deutsche Bahn is using the Easter holidays for urgently needed track work around Schlüchtern.
Schlüchtern – There is currently a lot of activity around Schlüchtern train station. This is not due to increased rail traffic, but rather through the activities of railway construction crews. Train traffic has therefore been suspended on the entire Kinzigtalbahn for a good ten days.
Since the evening of March 27th The section from Hanau to Fulda is completely closed. As reported, there are no trains and the station itself is not accessible. A replacement bus service has been set up, but these start and end in Schlüchtern's city center.
Major railway construction site: closure of the Kinzigtalbahn route
So-called “superstructure work” is currently taking place at the city’s train station. According to a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn in Frankfurt, these are “urgently necessary” and can only be carried out during a complete route closure. Similarly, work was carried out in other sections last year during the Easter holidays as part of a route closure.
Specifically, various construction projects are currently taking place in parallel. Tracks 2 and 4 are being replaced at Schlüchtern station. Around 1,500 meters of tracks will be replaced with the installation of a subgrade protection layer (PSS) and around 700 meters of deep drainage will be repaired.
A PSS is a load-distributing, usually water-permeable base layer. It lies between the subsoil (subsoil) and the gravel bed to prevent gravel from penetrating the ground, protect the subsoil from frost and drain rainwater to the sides.
The complete closure of the section will also be used to carry out renovation work outside of Bergwinkelstadt, for example between Bad Soden-Salmünster and Waechtersbach. Around 500 meters of tracks will be replaced and the track bed cleaned. This is done using large machines. At the same time, the deep drainage will be renovated over a section of 170 meters.
Construction is also taking place in the Schlüchtern-Ziegenberg area, where a 2.5 kilometer section of track is being renewed, the track bed is also being cleaned and deep drainage is being made possible over a stretch of around 820 meters. In addition, cable engineering work is taking place between various train stations and in the train stations.
According to the information, the employees of the contracted companies moved 9,000 meters of rails, 7,500 meters of sleepers, 10,000 tons of new ballast, 4,000 tons of gravel for the subgrade protection layer and 1,700 meters of drainage pipes including the associated shafts and drainage gravel during the closure of the line between Waechtersbach and Flieden.
Trains near Schlüchtern will soon be running again according to plan
According to the railway spokeswoman, the gravel that cannot be reinstalled will be disposed of properly. Environmental analyzes were carried out in advance in order to be able to plan disposal precisely. Disposal of the material becomes necessary if the grain size of the gravel is less than 32 millimeters.
Following the current route closure, new lighting will be installed in the passenger underpass at Schlüchtern train station, defective tiles will be replaced and a coat of paint will be applied. The completion of this construction project is scheduled for next summer. During this work, smaller barriers would be necessary in the underpass. However, access for travelers is possible at all times, assures the Deutsche Bahn spokeswoman.
The current construction processes are in line with the planned schedule. According to the current status, train services will resume as planned on Monday (April 13) at 5 a.m. (usd)
