Difficulties on the first metro line in Warsaw, caused by a night fire in 1 of the power substations, will be much longer than initially assumed. The president of the capital, Rafał Trzaskowski, admitted in the latest announcement that although the services are working continuously, it will take a long time to reconstruct average moving of trains throughout the route. For thousands of inhabitants, this means continuing to usage replacement communication and travel planning well in advance. The crash paralyzed a key section in the city centre, and the harm scale proved very serious.
According to the latest information provided by the Municipal Transport Board, passengers are inactive incapable to usage a delicate section of the M1 line. The situation is dynamic and the method services of the Warsaw Metro carry out intensive repair work. president Trzaskowski thanked everyone active in the action, stressing the large effort put into removing the consequences of the accident as shortly as possible. At the same time, however, he cooled his hopes for a fast return to normality, which is key information for all those who trust on an underground queue on their commutes to work or school.
What precisely happened? Causes of the fire at Racławick Station
The origin of the communication paralysis was a fire that broke out last night from Monday to Tuesday. Fire appeared in the key to the operation of the subway energy substation located in the Racławicka station area. It is there that the devices liable for the power supply and control of trains on 1 of the most loaded sections of the first line. The service immediately went into firefighting, but the fire had already done serious damage.
According to representatives of the Warsaw Metro, not only power supply equipment but besides very crucial control systems were damaged. They were destroyed, among another things fibre optics, which are the digital backbone of communication between trains and the dispatch centre. Without them, it is impossible to operate safely and to supply adequate intervals between the folds. It is the complexity of these systems that makes the repair so time-consuming.
Preliminary findings by investigators and experts clearly indicate technical failure as origin of fire. At this stage, the participation of 3rd parties has been completely excluded, which calms the public, but at the same time stresses the method scale of the problem. Repair requires the replacement of specialized components, conducting tests and re calibrating the full system, which is simply a process lasting many days.
Which stations are closed? Current metro moving diagram
Passengers must face major changes in the organisation of traffic on the first metro line. According to the authoritative communication of the Municipal Transport Board, M1 trains do not run on the section from Świętokrzyska station to Wilanowska station. This means full exclusion from the movement of specified stations as Polytechnique, Pole Mokotowskie and Racławicka.
Special rules for the operation of nodal stations were besides introduced. The Centre station is accessible to passengers, but trains leave only in 1 direction – north, towards the Młociny station. Passengers travelling from the north can only get to Świętokrzyska station, where they must leave the train. On the another hand, from the south, the depots only scope Wilanowska station, which became a temporary terminal station.
The good news is that The second metro line (M2) runs without any interference. Passengers can usage it for the full length, allowing them to partially bypass the disabled M1 section, by moving to the station of Świętokrzyska to another means of transport. Nevertheless, the difficulties are tremendous and the pistons in the remaining operating stations and in ground communications have increased significantly.
- Move-off episode: Świętokrzyska – Wilanowska
- Closed stations: University of Technology, Pole Mokotowskie, Racławicka
- Southbound trains: They only go to Wilanowska station
- Trains from the north: They only go to the station Świętokrzyska
- Centre station: active only in the direction of Hammer
"The repair will take any time." What does the president of Warsaw mean?
President Rafal Trzaskowski's words, who acknowledged that "further work will continue, unfortunately, for any time", are a clear signal to the inhabitants. They mean that the problem will not be solved within a fewer hours or most likely 1 or 2 days. Although there is no circumstantial date, the speech of the message suggests that residents should be prepared for handicaps lasting at least until the end of the weekMaybe even longer.
The complexity of the failure is the main origin affecting the repair time. The exchange of burnt power cables is 1 thing, but the reconstruction of fibre infrastructure and motion control systems is simply a much more complicated task. Each item must not only be listed, but besides precisely configured and tested to warrant 100 % safety of future journeys. It's a process that can't be accelerated without hazard to passengers.
President Trzaskowski said on his social media: “We are making all effort to get all stations back on track as shortly as possible. We will keep you informed of any changes and developments." This is simply a commitment to transparent communication, but passengers request to be patient and keep track of the ZTM messages on an ongoing basis as the situation may change depending on the advancement of method work.
How to decision around Warsaw? Substitution in the pill
In consequence to the subway paralysis, the Municipal Transportation Board launched extended replacement communications to aid passengers decision around the city. The key function is played replacement bus line ‘Behind the Metro’, moving on a way that coincides with an off section of the underground queue. These buses drive at a advanced frequency, stopping close the subway station to facilitate the transfer.
In addition to the peculiar bus line, ZTM besides reinforced regular tram and bus connections moving along the north-south axis. Especially crucial became tram lines driving the Avenue of Independence, Marszałkowska and Puławy. Passengers are advised to usage trams No 4, 10, 18, 35, which can be a good alternate to the metro on the central section.
In order to plan your journey efficiently, it is worth utilizing mobile applications (such as Jakdojade or Google Maps) that keep up to date information about obstacles and propose alternate routes. ZTM besides encourages website tracking == sync, corrected by elderman == and social media profiles, where the most fresh communications on course changes and advancement in disaster resolution are published. Planning a journey in advance and booking additional time to travel is now an absolute necessity.
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Paralysis of the metro in Warsaw will take longer. Trzaskowski gave bad news
