Distressed Mothers and Family Separation: Onlookers Shocked by Disarray at Train Station
The Four-Hour Saga at Pasewalk Station
Prepare for an unforgettable tale, one that left a Berlin woman, accompanied by her ten-year-old daughter, scratching their heads. Their unexpected sojourn at the humble Pasewalk station on Whit Sunday was the stuff of nightmares.
It all began with the unexpected departure of their Regional Express train on line 3. Overcrowding was the culprit, causing chaos galore according to the travel-weary duo.
Clearing the Tracks, Literally
"We were unable to board the following train. We found ourselves stranded with my daughter and several bicyclists for over four hours, waiting anxiously for a train," the exasperated traveler recounted in her story. Their eventful day stretched across twelve hours, en route from Stettin to Berlin on that Sunday. "We spent four hours, from 13:41 to 17:42, within the walls of Pasewick."
Their initial hour was spent in a tunnel. Shockingly, the federal police had sealed off the entire platform due to overcrowding post the train's removal. She learned from fellow passengers that families had been torn apart. "A gentleman had no choice but to send his partner and kids ahead with their luggage, while he remained stranded in Pasewick in limbo," she narrated. Even more wrenching was the sight of a mother forcing herself to push her bike past her, tear-streaked face betraying the anguish of having left her kids behind in the train.
"A policewoman suggested we seek shelter in a hotel. She couldn't promise if we'd be leaving that day," the mother disclosed. For quite some time, it remained unclear whether her daughter could attend school the next day, or if she could report to work herself.
"For the following three hours, we were devoid of any facilities. Only a snack machine and an appalling, coin-operated restroom were available," the train passenger vented. She waited for five trains in total, before she could finally hop aboard the Regional Express that left Pasewick at 17:42, arriving in Berlin-Gesundbrunnen at 19:32. "This, apparently, is just par for the course in regional trains during weekends," she said, with a resigned sigh.
Despite filing for a refund of her daughter's ticket, she's yet to receive a reply.
Safety Murmurs
Amid the chaos, the federal police had clear reasons for their actions. In a statement on Wednesday, they explained, "Officers of the federal police temporarily cleared the train as part of risk prevention, and requested passengers to vacate the train and opt for a later connection."
The partial evacuation was run in consultation with the train driver, who wished not to proceed under the prospect of overcrowding. "Approximately 200 travelers were asked to leave the RE3," said the press representative.
Subsequently, local officers in Pasewick ensured a safe and orderly flow of traffic for the remaining trains. Trains passing through Pasewick at 13:50, 14:15, 14:42, 15:57, and 16:06 picked up waiting passengers.
"The travelers generally responded with understanding, sometimes even gratitude, towards the measures implemented to ensure safety," said Wulf Winterhoff, who reiterated that traffic management and guidance were not the responsibility of the Federal Police, but rather Deutsche Bahn's duty. "The deployment of the 19 Federal Police officers and a patrol of the state police ended at around 16:14 without further ado as the last waiting passengers departed."
Deutsche Bahn has made no public remarks on the matter.
As a result of the overcrowded Regional Express train on line 3, the traveling mother and her daughter found themselves stranded at Pasewick station for over four hours, facing an unexpected lifestyle change during their intended travel day. This incident, despite causing significant inconvenience, seemed to be a regular occurrence in regional trains during weekends, raising questions about the travel arrangements and safety measures implemented by Deutsche Bahn.
