An unusual incident in Yekaterinburg led to a tram derailing after contractors mistakenly paved over a section of tram tracks with asphalt. The event caused temporary disruptions, with some routes diverted. Normal service resumed after five hours, and fortunately, no one was injured as the tram was not full.
The derailment occurred when road workers covered tram lines with asphalt during night-time operations. It remains unclear how the crew failed to notice the tracks. This peculiar incident resulted in a queue of several vehicles being held up.
Currently, asphalt paver operators are working to rectify the situation by breaking up the freshly laid road surface. City hall officials have stated that the technical malfunction was due to the contractors` actions. The local transport authority, «Gortrans,» is now seeking to recover damages for the incurred losses.
Sergey Ledovsky, a local editor, shared details about the incident:
«It was a routine road surface renewal. Workers were simply repaving the asphalt here, and it seems they overdid it during the laying process, covering the tram tracks on one section of the road. Consequently, they didn`t leave grooves for the wheels, and a tram derailed on that section in the morning. A bypass was quickly arranged: some trams were rerouted, while others had their paths altered. Within five hours, everything was restored at the site, and the tracks were freed from the asphalt. City officials noted that a technical glitch occurred during the contractor`s work. The possibility of claiming damages for the expenses incurred is now being considered. Traffic, as reported by news agencies, has been restored, but trams are moving slowly in that area due to heavy congestion. In social media comments, people didn`t complain much about disrupted work plans or missing appointments because of this. I found nothing of the sort. Yes, it`s quite an amusing situation.»
The incident took place in the large Uralmash district on Pobedy Street. No one was harmed in the tram derailment. The tram was traveling at seven in the morning and was not at full capacity.
