Background Report 7 November 12th

Transport Schedule Announced

The French authorities have published a schedule for the 12-Castor train.

The train will leave Valognes (near La Hague in Normandy) at 7:05 pm today, passing through the following cities (at times indicated).

Caen (8:40 p.m.) -- Paris (10:22 p.m.) -- Amiens (1:27 a.m. on Nov. 12) -- Reims (5:10 a.m.) -- Nancy (10:40 a.m.) -- Sarrebourg (1:50 p.m.) -- Lauterbourg (French border) (3:41 p.m.)

The Germans have not yet published schedules or routes, possibly because they fear demonstrations. The most likely route is:

Wörth (border station) -- Karlsruhe -- Mannheim -- Darmstadt (arriving there at maybe 5:00 p.m.).

After Darmstadt, the train may go directly north through Frankfurt -- Kassel, or it may go east through northern Bavaria: Würzburg -- Fulda -- Kassel.

Either way, local anti-castor groups are preparing protest demonstations After Kassel, the train must pass through the university town of Göttingen, where demonstrations have been banned. From Göttingen, the most likely route is Hannover -- Celle -- Uelzen -- Lüneburg -- Dannenberg (Wendland).

Since the route has been kept secret, and the train may be held up by demonstrations (the entire German anti-nuclear movement is making preparations), it´s impossible to foretell when the train may reach its destination. The Castor Diary will keep you informed of events as they occur.

Last Night in Wendland

(See www.oneworldweb.de/castor/nix7/karten.htm for good local maps)

There was protest action on the "southern route" from Dannenberg to Gorleben. Fifteen tractors blocked the road at Splietau for several hours, while 200 people held a spontaneous demo. One policeman drew his pistol and threatened a tractor driver and bystanders. This act was witnessed by an observer from a human rights group, as well as a reporter from NDR, a major television network.

At Gusborn, where 450 people attended a church service, the police blocked the road in both directions. When the people filed out of the church, a police vehicle rammed the crowd, injuring one person. Water cannons and mounted police were on hand, but not used.