Brienz Switzerland - Intense rainfall on Thursday morning, 24 Jul 2014, has done massive damage to the Brienz Rothorn Bahn (BRB) track.
 
Therefore, steam trains will travel only to Planalp on weekends, says BRB Director Simon Koller in a press release.
 
When full operation to Rothorn Kulm can resume is the subject of close analysis.
 
The railway up to the summit above the landslide remains safe according to the BRB announcement.
 
Maintenance work will last until at least Monday night.
 
"Specialists have already started on Thursday with the first damage inventory," explains Simon Koller.
 
"The rainfall on Thursday morning triggered a mudslide across our path just above the middle station of Planalp. We are working flat out at this point but the BRB certainly can not start operation past Planalp to Rothorn until Monday evening. The slope above Planalp slid over a distance of about 80 meters. The mass of earth buried the tracks and damaged them massively. The railway operators are now working to clear the track, evaluate the extent of damage, and to ascertain the possibility of the fastest possible restart. On Friday morning heavy construction equipment worked on the damaged area. The cleanup work began abruptly. However, a large amount of work is still required."
 
The Brienz Rothorn Railway regrets this interruption.
 
The technically demanding part of the route to Planalp is in operation.
 
Simon Koller recommends guests take advantage of the beautiful weekend weather for hiking around Planalp.
 
The schedule of the steam train is as follows:  Depart Brienz:  10:45, 12:00, 13:45, and 15:45. Depart Planalp:  11:20, 13:00, 16:45, and 15:00.

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