Rail traffic resumes in Switzerland after shutdown
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-23 09:59

Some trains began operating again on Switzerland's railways following a three-hour power failure that brought the entire network to a grinding halt, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) said.

Commuters pack a platform waiting for a diesel train in the main train station during a blackout in Zurich, Switzerland, Wednesday, June 22, 2005. Due to a nationwide power failure, the entire SBB CFF train system of Switzerland was shut down, leaving thousands of commuters stranded in trains and stations. [AP]

"It is working better since 9:15/9:30 pm (1915/1930 GMT)," SBB spokesman Jean-Philippe Schmidt said. "Trains are quietly running again, bit by bit. We will not start them all at the same time because it would risk blowing the system."

The SBB will try "to ensure that everyone can go home tonight," he said, but added that the situation would not return to normal before Thursday morning.

At least 100,000 people were stranded, some for as much as an hour, following the unexplained power failure at 6pm (1600 GMT).

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