Hundreds of travelers stranded at Dresden Central Station due to blackout!

Hundreds of travelers stranded at Dresden Central Station due to blackout!

On Friday, July 5, 2025, hundreds of travelers faced unforeseen chaos at Dresden Central Station. En route to the Czech Republic, their journey was abruptly halted by a massive power outage in the neighboring country, resulting in a standstill of trains heading to Prague. According to information from the federal police in Pirna, the MDR present, the situation was dramatic and required quick action.

The desperate travelers waited in vain for buses that were stuck in traffic on the A17 due to a tunnel closure. At the same time, replacement buses had been requested to transport the travelers after a train was made available in Dresden to take them to Prague. On Friday evening at 8 p.m., numerous travelers were finally able to continue their journey in buses provided. Around 700 people set off on a Eurocity train towards the Czech capital around 10 p.m.

The cause of chaos

The reason for the massive delays was a widespread blackout in the Czech Republic that shut down large parts of the country, including Prague. The city's subway was at a standstill and firefighters had to free people from stuck elevators. Police investigations revealed that it was not a terrorist attack or a cyber attack. Rather, a defect in a substation was discussed as a possible cause, as reported by Radio Dresden was reported.

The situation not only posed challenges for the travelers, but also for the emergency services. Police and emergency services were organizing the anticipated distribution of water as the hot temperatures caused additional problems for people. An improvised bus stop was set up for those waiting at temperatures well over 30 degrees after Strehlener Straße had to be closed due to the crowds.

Power outage in the Czech Republic

The power outage had serious consequences: On Saturday morning, more than 63,000 households in the Czech Republic were without power. Regions in northern Bohemia were particularly affected, such as the municipality of Višňová, which was cut off from its surroundings due to the rising water level of the Smědá River. Despite the critical situation, no evacuations have been necessary so far, according to the mayor of the community, Michal Scheidl. The water has not yet penetrated into the residential buildings, reported Radio Prague.

The massive situation this Friday was dealt with by the authorities' quick reaction and the accommodating organization of travel options. Nevertheless, events have shown how quickly things can change and what impact technical problems can have on travel.