Fault leaves German rail travellers waiting hours in freezing weather

Travellers in northern Germany taking a regional rail service were left waiting in sub-zero temperatures for four hours, due to a technical defect a train service spokesperson said on Saturday, reported dpa.

The passengers who were on their way from Schwerin to Rostock spent four hours on the train that lacked heating and power as it stopped ahead of Bad Kleinen on Friday evening.

Technicians then managed to repair the train so it could be towed to Bad Kleinen, the police said.

The reason for the breakdown was various technical defects, including on the train's coupling, a spokesperson for the railway said on Saturday afternoon.

"We are very sorry about this and apologise for any inconvenience caused. Support was of course on site for the passengers the whole time," she said.