In Europe, at major yards and passenger stations on all-electrified
main lines, there are always some diesels -- both pure switchers and
road engines -- rostered. Yes, these are intended in part for
working non-electrified branches and industrial spurs, but the number
of diesels is always in excess of the specific need for these purposes.

The diesels are used not only to work station/yard tracks where the
catenary has been shut off for maintenance or due to damage, but they
are also available as rescue engines for any major power outage for
a larger area.

From reading the above posts, it isn't clear to me exactly what the
problem was with the power on this train, but I would think that a
rescue engine/train coud have been found within an hour or two -- if
someone had really made the effort.

-- Ernest