Debris from one drone sparked a fire at Kamennolomni station, while another caused power outages on a railway section. Passengers are facing delays of 10-15 hours, enduring temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius. Volunteers are distributing water and food, while Russian Railways (RZD) works to restore services.
Over 50 passenger trains, operated by «Grand Service Express» and FPC, are currently delayed in Russia`s Rostov region. During the night, fragments of a downed drone struck the train station building in Kamennolomni, situated between Novocherkassk and Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. The building caught fire, necessitating the deployment of a fire train.
Two days earlier, in the same region, another drone incident led to a power failure on the Likhaya-Zamchalovo railway section. This halt affected at least 132 trains; 60 of these have since reached their destinations, albeit with significant delays, some exceeding 15 hours.
This railway disruption has now lasted for two days. Passengers are receiving water and instant food to cope with the scorching 40-degree Celsius heat. Here`s what some passengers and train conductors have shared in volunteer chats:
— How are you feeling overall?
— Well, we`re holding up alright, but it`s hot.
— The air conditioning isn`t working.
— We also need toilet paper for the passengers, but everyone is generally fine, everyone understands the situation.
Oksana, a passenger, contacted Business FM. She reported that her train from Rostov was approaching Sochi with a five-hour delay. They had a prolonged stop in Rostov, but food and water provisions were adequate. However, she mentioned having to pay 9,000 rubles for access to a business lounge, as, according to her, no free seating was available at the station.
Witness Accounts and Official Statements
Alexandra Kramarenko, a journalist from Rostov-on-Don, provided Business FM with an update on the local situation:
Volunteers are on site, bringing vast quantities of water because the line is de-energized, and the region is experiencing temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius. They are also supplying food and emergency kits. Naturally, people are exhausted; they`ve been waiting for many hours. We have information that alternative transport for passengers is being considered, but this has not yet been officially confirmed.
In total, 36 drones were shot down in the Rostov region over the past weekend. The repercussions extend beyond the railway: in several districts, including Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, nine private homes sustained damage. There were no casualties among the general public, though a female railway employee in Kamensk was injured during the drone debris fall, but her life is not in danger.
Alexandra Kramarenko
Journalist
Russian Railways (RZD) has stated that they are striving to rectify the damage as quickly as possible. However, an automated message on their hotline claims that services have been restored and trains are being brought back on schedule.
