Train driver stops PKP Intercity service ahead of fallen tree in Otłoczyn
A PKP Intercity driver halted a passenger train traveling from Bystrzyca to Bydgoszcz after spotting a rotted tree on the tracks in Otłoczyn, causing a 90-minute shutdown.
Obstruction on the Aleksandrów Kujawski to Toruń line
On the afternoon of Saturday, 3 October 2026, a railway incident occurred on the route connecting Aleksandrów Kujawski and Toruń in north-central Poland. A PKP Intercity passenger train was operating along its scheduled route from Bystrzyca through Rzeszów toward Bydgoszcz when the driver observed an obstacle directly ahead. A tree had collapsed across the tracks in the village of Otłoczyn, situated within Aleksandrów County in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The driver spotted the hazard in time and initiated an emergency stop shortly before 14:00, bringing the train to a complete standstill before reaching the fallen timber. The rapid braking maneuver prevented any collision or derailment of the train, leaving passengers and crew unharmed.
Fire brigade response and track clearance
Following the emergency stop, the Voivodeship Fire Service Headquarters in Toruń received notification of the blocked line and dispatched one fire brigade unit directly to the scene in Otłoczyn. Upon arrival at the railway section, firefighters confirmed that a fallen trunk together with scattered broken branches completely covered the track. To enable the firefighters to work safely along the active railway infrastructure, rail controllers ordered an immediate halt to all train movements in both directions. The firefighting crew worked on the tracks to cut apart the fallen timber and remove all debris from the permanent way. The PKP Intercity train bound for Bydgoszcz remained stationary on the line for more than one and a half hours while the intervention took place.
- PKP Intercity train stops before rotted tree in Otłoczyn
- Firefighters clear the tracks as police rule out third-party involvement
- Train service resumes on the line between Aleksandrów Kujawski and Toruń
Police investigation and structural assessment of the tree
Officers from the Aleksandrów Kujawski County Police Headquarters were dispatched to the site in Otłoczyn to investigate why the tree fell across the rails. Staff Warrant Officer Marta Białkowska-Błachowicz from the Aleksandrów Kujawski police confirmed that an examination of the trunk showed the tree was rotted inside. Investigators determined that the deteriorated wood collapsed on its own rather than through any external mechanical force. Police authorities officially ruled out third-party involvement or sabotage, confirming that no individuals had contributed to the incident on the tracks.
Delays and passenger disruptions across the rail corridor
The stoppage led to delays across the regional rail network connecting Kuyavian-Pomeranian stations with other parts of Poland. Mateusz Gdowski from the PKP Intercity press office explained that the presence of broken branches and timber across the rails required closing both tracks throughout the emergency operation. In addition to the halted Bystrzyca-Rzeszów-Bydgoszcz service, railway traffic controllers were forced to detain several other scheduled trains. At Toruń Główny station, dispatchers held two PKP Intercity services, specifically the train traveling from Gdynia to Zakopane and the train running from Bydgoszcz to Rzeszów. Normal traffic resumed in both directions after emergency crews finished clearing the tracks and safety checks were completed.
