Unzmarkt train station

500 stranded train passengers treated by the Red Cross

The team from Judenburg worked into the night

(Bild: Rotes Kreuz)

The heavy thunderstorms on Friday evening also resulted in blocked train routes: 500 passengers were stranded at the train station in Unzmarkt in Upper Styria alone after fallen trees paralyzed the Southern Railway. The Red Cross provided the 500 stranded passengers with drinking water, and there were also snacks and sweets for the children. 

Due to a defective overhead line and track blockages as a result of the heavy thunderstorm, the stations in Unzmarkt and the neighboring Carinthian town of Friesach were out of action in the evening hours. More than 200 people had to be taken by bus from Friesach to Unzmarkt in order to continue their journey to Vienna from there.

Passengers were stuck for hours
At Unzmarkt station itself, more than 300 people were also stranded and had to wait up to four hours for their onward journey. Seven employees and an emergency doctor were on duty with two ambulances, the command vehicle and an emergency ambulance until late at night. 

As space on the buses is limited, alternative travel options should be used if possible or the journey should be postponed to a later time.

Bitte der ÖBB

And the supply operation continues. "After consultation with the railroad company, the operation is not expected to end before Sunday evening," says District Rescue Commander Peter Hackl. "Throughout the day and night, we again expect hundreds of people to need assistance." 

For the time being, the route between Unzmarkt and Friesach must remain closed, and a shuttle service with buses has been set up for local and long-distance traffic, ÖBB said on Saturday. In addition, special trains are running between Unzmarkt and Bruck an der Mur as well as Friesach and Klagenfurt.

Households also without power
Due to the violent storm, not only were tracks laid by mudslides and overhead lines damaged, but falling trees also cut electricity pylons. Around 2000 households in the districts of Weiz, Bruck-Mürzzuschlag and Leoben were still without power on Saturday morning.