- Title: GERMANY: Heavy snow continues to cause chaos in southern Germany
- Date: 5th March 2006
- Summary: TRAM STOP SIGN SAYING TRAMS CANCELLED WITH PAN ONTO SNOW-COVERED ROAD
- Embargoed: 20th March 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- City:
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Weather
- Reuters ID: LVA9DXBNHO3RVIO0MPXEC0AUCYEN
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Record snow levels continued to cause traffic chaos in Bavaria on Sunday (March 5). Many roads were closed and trains cancelled in southern Germany.
The transport system in Munich was particularly badly hit as tracks had to be cleared for long distance trains and the local trams. While the queues increased at the central station in Munich, some passengers were understanding about the weather.
"Obviously I am annoyed about the situation as a whole, but it is simply a natural phenomenon and so you can't blame anyone," Stefan Wernick told Reuters, "I understand that the train service collapses under so much snow and the trains have difficulties. But I would like to get home today, I have to work tomorrow."
In Munich there are 50 centimetres of snow, and residents were spending hours trying to free their cars from the white blanket, even the rescue helicopter in Munich had to be freed.
"Actually I like snow, but as a skier, not as a driver," Patrick Sheedy said. "I have been shovelling for ten minutes, and am already out of breath, and I think it will take a while, because I saw the man ahead of me and it took him an hour to clear the snow, now it is my turn."
Clearing the snow from his car was only the start for caretaker Thomas Luchs.
"I like the snow, but I have been clearing it for ten minutes, I hope that I shall have freed the car in half an hour, then I have to go to the school to clear the snow from there, that is when the real fun starts," he said.
Bavaria is experiencing the coldest winter and the most recorded snow for over two decades, but the weather is forecast to improve next week. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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