Zurich: Switzerland’s railways were paralysed by a power failure yesterday, stranding more than 100,000 passengers across the country in the worst breakdown in the network’s history.
The state-owned railway ground to a halt at about 15.45 GMT because of problems with the electricity supply in high-voltage power lines along the tracks. Trains did not begin to roll again for nearly four hours, from about 19.30 GMT, but further disruption would be likely today, officials said.
Switzerland, famed for the punctuality of its trains, is an important link in the European rail network, with connections between Italy, Germany, France and Austria. “I am surprised this happened here,” Paul Buckmaster, an Irish student held up in Berne, said.
“The atmosphere has been very peaceful,” Regula Inauen said as she waited for a train in Zurich. “After all, there was nothing that we could do.”