Technical defect: rail traffic between Hohenems and Lochau stopped!

Technical defect: rail traffic between Hohenems and Lochau stopped!

Wolfurt, Österreich - On June 24, 2025, there was a significant technical defect in the Wolfurt signal box, which paralyzed rail traffic between Hohenems and Lochau-Hörbranz for several hours. The disorder appeared shortly before 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning and led to a complete failure of the trains in this area. The Wolfurt signal box is crucial for the control of the course and signals in the Rhine Valley, which is why the effects were immediately felt.

After the repair work was initiated immediately, another serious error occurred, which also delayed the restoration of the train operation. Around noon, the technicians finally managed to fix the disorder. Despite the resumption of the train operation, passengers had to continue to expect considerable delays and possible failures. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) reported persistent irregularities that could last until the evening.

rail replacement and longer travel times

In order to accommodate the affected traveler, a replacement of rails was set up. Busse now run between Hohenems and Lindau and between Bregenz and St. Margrethen. Passengers should prepare for their travel times can be extended by up to 60 minutes.

The ÖBB also recommend checking the current connections online before driving to avoid nasty surprises. It will take some time until the timetable has normalized again, which is a challenge for many commuters and travelers.

background and other disorders

Such incidents are not unusual in rail traffic. Frequent rail travelers know the challenges that disturbances in the route network have. These can be caused by various factors such as fallen trees, damage to vehicles or overhead lines. Such problems often require closures and diversions throughout the network, which illustrates the need for information services such as the "Disorders in Railway Traffic" Initiative, which provides independent information.

In addition, travelers should be aware that use of the Deutsche Bahn website is generally possible without providing personal data. For particularly requested services or bookings, the processing of such data may be required. Deutsche Bahn AG, based in Berlin, ensures that data protection processing is carried out and informs about the rights of users.

For current information on disorders and delays in rail traffic, it is advisable to use the respective official channels. The reporting on the incidents shows how important a smooth rail traffic is for the mobility of people.

Further details and information on the current sensitivities in rail traffic can be found on the pages of Vol.at, the Deutsche Bahn and the initiative in Rail traffic] (https://stoerungen-bahnverkehr.de/).