RegioJet Locomotive Overheating Disrupts Railway Traffic Near Bratislava

Bratislava, 4 August (TASR) - Railway services on the Devinska Nova Ves-Zohor section (Bratislava region) were partially disrupted on Tuesday after a RegioJet locomotive overheated, the state-owned passenger carrier ZSSK confirmed to TASR. RegioJet spokesperson Lukas Kubat added the hot weather may also have contributed to the incident. "The locomotive operating service RJ 1048 overheated and was unable to continue its journey," Kubat explained. The train remained stranded on the line for around one hour before being towed to Devinska Nova Ves station. Passengers were able either to leave at the station or wait on the train, the spokesman said, adding that despite intensive efforts it was not possible to secure a replacement locomotive. As a result, passengers had to wait for the next RegioJet service, to which the disabled train was attached. "The train remained supplied with electricity throughout the incident and the air conditioning stayed in operation. However, we recognise that, particularly in the current high temperatures, such a long wait was very unpleasant and stressful for passengers. We apologise for the inconvenience caused," the RegioJet spokesperson added. ZSSK spokesperson Jan Bacek said the single-track Devinska Nova Ves-Zohor section had been blocked by the disabled RegioJet train from around 1.30 p.m. due to a locomotive fault. "As a result of the incident, ZSSK had to cancel two local passenger services on the affected route. Until around 3.10 p.m., other trains experienced delays of several tens of minutes, also because the infrastructure manager ZSR imposed speed restrictions due to the weather," Bacek told TASR. mf