"A train crash due to a landslide leaves echoing sounds": Train Derails due to Landslide
A train derailment near Riedlingen in southern Baden-Württemberg was caused by a landslide triggered by heavy rain and an overflowing sewage shaft. The accident occurred around 6:10 pm during ongoing severe storms, with about 100 passengers on board.
The heavy rainfall led to extreme water flow and saturation, causing the sewage shaft to overflow and increasing water accumulation in the embankment soil. This water accumulation triggered a landslide next to the railway tracks, causing the railway embankment to collapse under the train's path and leading to the derailment.
Three people died in the disaster, including the train driver and a trainee, as well as a 70-year-old passenger. Two critically injured individuals are being treated at the University Hospital Tübingen and the Alb-Donau Clinic in Ehingen.
Baden-Württemberg's Minister President Winfried Kretschmann expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, stating that they should mourn, feel with the affected, and go with the heavy fate they have suffered. He also thanked the rescue forces for their quick response and efforts under difficult conditions.
The Railway and Transport Union (EVG) mourned the loss of two colleagues who died in the train derailment. The railway line has been closed for recovery, with the help of a special crane, and is expected to take until Tuesday morning. An expert team will inspect the track for precise damage, and it will then be estimated how long the track will remain closed.
Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) commented on the sight of the accident site, finding it shocking. The train derailment resembled a war zone, with debris scattered on the ground and one of the carriages derailed, climbing up the embankment, and colliding with a tree, with the front being torn off.
This is not the first incident of its kind. In June 2024, two carriages of an ICE with 185 passengers on board derailed near Schwäbisch Gmünd after a landslide, but no one was injured at the time.
Replacement traffic by bus is in place during the closure of the railway line. Bahn CEO Richard Lutz visited the accident site and expressed deep shock and sadness. The number of passengers on the RE 55 train is still unclear, but initial reports suggest it could be around 100.
A geological expert has carried out measurements on the slope, and investigations are ongoing to determine any foul play. The data recorder from the train was removed for analysis to determine any useful information, such as the speed at the time of the derailment.
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- The recent train derailment in Riedlingen, caused by a landslide triggered by heavy rain and an overflowing sewage shaft, has brought war-and-conflicts imagery to the general-news landscape, as Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder noted the site resembling a war zone.
- The train derailment in Riedlingen has not only disrupted policy-and-legislation regarding transportation but also highlighted car-accidents and crime-and-justice issues, as investigations are ongoing to determine if there was any foul play involved.
- The heavy rainfall in the region, contributing to the derailment, has become a topic of discussion in the realm of migration, as the increased water accumulation presents challenges for infrastructure management and prevention of disasters.
- In addition to the train derailment, the Baden-Württemberg region has faced other hardships, such as fires and crises, testing the resilience and adaptability of politics and governance in the area.
- The aftermath of the Riedlingen train derailment is a call for increased attention to accident prevention measures, as evidenced by the review of the damaged track and the oversight of the replacement traffic by bus, which falls under the general-news and general safety category.
