Tuesday morning in Warsaw turned into a communication nightmare for hundreds of thousands of inhabitants. A powerful fire that broke out at night on the critical infrastructure of the subway led to paralysis of the city's key communication artery. Although the fire appeared at the station on the first line, its consequences are felt on both routes of the underground queue. The services are working continuously, but the situation is far from stable, and the City Transport Administration (ZTM) calls for caution and follow current messages. Passengers must be patient and prepare for a crucial increase in travel time.
The problem is highly serious due to the fact that it concerns not only the station itself, but the full power substation supplying key sections of the metro. The consequences of the accident in the morning communication summit proved disastrous – overcrowded buses and trams, gigantic traffic jams on the streets and thousands of confused people trying to scope work and schools. It is 1 of the most serious incidents in the past of the Warsaw Metro, and its full effects will be known only after the firefighting action and detailed method inspection.
Night fire and morning paralysis. What precisely happened?
The incidental happened last night from Monday to Tuesday. The fire appeared on the ground energy substation located at Racławicka metro station on the first line (M1). This was not a train or platform fire, but a key component of the infrastructure, which makes the failure much more complicated to remove. Flames included power cables located in peculiar method channels underground, making access and firefighting difficult.
Numerous fire brigades were immediately deployed. The action from the very beginning was complicated due to the specificity of the object. It was essential to cut off a high-voltage power supply to the full area, which in itself is simply a complex operation. According to the service, fire in method channels generated immense amounts of dense, toxic smoke, which further slowed the advancement of firefighters. The firefighting operation continued all night and continued in the morning, which prevented the average start of subway courses at dawn.
The problem concerns the heart of the subway power system. Traction substations, specified as the 1 at Racławicka, are liable for the conversion and supply of electricity essential for the movement of trains. The harm to cables in specified a place results in a domino effect, affecting the ability to supply long sections of the route, and consequently – to the operation of both metro lines.
Obstructions on both metro lines. How do trains run now?
The effects of the night fire were felt most powerfully by passengers of the M1 line, which was practically torn into 2 parts. In the morning top trains on the front line did not run on the central section, which is the communication backbone of Warsaw. The movement was halted in the section from the Polytechnique station to Stokłosy station, which meant a complete shutdown of specified key stations as Pole Mokotowskie, Racławicka, Wierzbno or Wilanowska. Trains ran only in short loops: in the north from Młocin to the method University and in the south from Kabat to Stokłos.
Although the fire did not straight affect the second metro line (M2), the power failure besides affected its functioning. At 5:55 p.m., traffic over the full M2 line was resumed, but passengers had to face serious consequences. Trains on the second line run with a importantly reduced frequency, which in highest hours led to utmost piston on platforms and in wagons. Many residents tried to avoid problems on M1, switching to M2, which only increased chaos.
For thousands of Warsawians, this meant that the travel plans had to be completely changed. The time to get to work in many cases increased by more than an hour, and uncovering a place in any public transport was bordered by a miracle. This situation exposed how much the capital's communication strategy depends on the efficient operation of the metro.
Substitution in action. How to decision around Warsaw?
The City Transport Board (ZTM) has launched emergency procedures to minimise the effects of paralysis. The key component of the contingency plan is replacement communication. peculiar moving bus replacement line ‘Behind the Metro’, which runs on the way of the off-line metro section, i.e. between metro stations of the University of Technology and Metro Stokłosy. However, these buses are overcrowded and run in powerful traffic that formed on streets parallel to the metro route, specified as the Avenue of Independence.
In addition, ZTM introduced peculiar rules for ticket honoring. Passengers with valid metro tickets can usage parallel tram and bus lines at no extra charge. However, it is worth remembering that these are besides overloaded. Service calls for alternate routes to be chosen as far as possible or, if possible, to work remotely.
To avoid confusion, passengers should keep track of authoritative sources of information. Here are any applicable tips:
- Check WTP website (Warsaw Public Transport) – there are the latest messages about changes in course.
- Use mobile apps – applications specified as Jakdojade or Google Maps update routes in real time, taking into account obstacles.
- Listen to voice messages – current information is provided at metro stations, stops and vehicles.
- Plan your journey well in advance – do not leave the home at the last minute, add at least 30-60 minutes to the standard journey time.
Official work notice. The situation is not yet contained
The seriousness of the situation is confirmed by messages from the authorities. Jacek Dobrzyński, the press spokesperson of the Minister of peculiar Services Coordinator, took the level in the case. He confirmed that the fire department cut off the power supply to the damaged substation and the transformers were grounded. It is simply a standard safety procedure that must be performed before inspectors can enter the area and measure the degree of damage.
However, the Ombudsman stressed the most crucial fact: "the situation has not yet been full contained". This means that the firefighting operation in underground method channels is inactive ongoing and the threat has not been completely eliminated. Until firefighters announce the end of the action, it will be impossible to begin any corrective work. The precedence is to extinguish the fire and safe the area.
There's no authoritative evidence of the origin of the fire yet. This will be the subject of an enquiry into a peculiar committee that will start working as shortly as conditions allow. Speculations on the possible short circuit or another method reasons are premature at this stage. The key now is to reconstruct safety and stableness in the metro system.
When will the subway be back to normal? Latest forecasts
The most crucial question that the inhabitants of the capital are asking now is: erstwhile will the subway yet start moving normally? Unfortunately, for now no 1 can give a circumstantial date or even an hour. The restoration process of full metro efficiency will be multi-stage and time consuming. First, the fire department must officially complete the operation and hand over the premises to the administrator.
Then the inspectors of construction supervision and the technician of the Warsaw Metro will begin the work. Their occupation will be accurate assessment of the harm scale. They must check the condition of cables, method channels and equipment in the power substation. Only after this study will it be possible to estimation how long repairs will take. In the worst case scenario, if the harm is extended and requires the exchange of key components, the obstacles can take up to a fewer days.
The residents of Warsaw are left with nothing but to be patient and keep track of the ZTM messages and the city authorities. The situation is dynamic and information can change from hr to hour. 1 thing is certain – Tuesday, and possibly the following days, will flow in the capital under the sign of a large communication challenge.
Continued here:
A powerful fire in the subway paralyzes Warsaw. Service fights fire, obstructions will last
