Following the tragic railway collision in Kusel, investigations by the police are underway before the railway resumes operations.
In the industrial area of "Zum Metternachtshof" in Kusel, a tragic accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon around 12:30 PM. The incident involved a car colliding with a train at an unprotected railway crossing.
The car was driven by a 51-year-old woman, accompanied by a 48-year-old woman and her 13 and 16-year-old daughters. Unfortunately, the 16-year-old passenger lost her life in the accident, and three others were severely injured. The regional train from Kusel to Kaiserslautern, which had approximately 20 passengers at the time, none of whom were injured, was also involved.
Railway crossings in Germany are subject to strict safety regulations, primarily governed by the Eisenbahn-Bau- und Betriebsordnung (EBO), the German Ordinance on the Construction and Operation of Railways. For unprotected (unguarded) railway crossings, like the one in Kusel, safety measures include clear warning signs, speed and visibility requirements, user vigilance, regulatory standards, and risk assessments.
Germany combines legal regulations (EBO), technical standards (DIN EN), clear signage, and user responsibility as safety measures for all railway crossings. The focus is on preventing accidents through visible warnings and strict operational rules, while technical upgrades depend on risk-based evaluations.
Following the accident, Kusel County Administrator, Otto Rubly (CDU), has called for better safety measures at the crossing. Rubly plans to investigate the number of previous incidents at the crossing in the last 15 years and discuss possible safety measures with the German Railway company.
Crisis intervention teams, firefighters, paramedics, and federal and state police were present at the accident scene. Passengers were assisted and later allowed to leave the scene. The train driver was left in shock following the accident.
The three injured passengers were airlifted to hospitals. The train line was reopened for traffic in the early evening.
It is essential to remember that safety at railway crossings is a shared responsibility. While regulations and technical standards play a crucial role, drivers and pedestrians must always exercise caution and vigilance when approaching unguarded crossings.
[1] Bundesbahn-Verordnung (Eisenbahngesetzbuch - EGB) und Eisenbahn-Bau- und Betriebsordnung (EBO) [2] DIN EN 50126 – Sicherheitseigenschaften für Schienenfahrzeuge [3] Mü 8004 – Technische Regeln für den Schienenverkehr [4] Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) [5] Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (BMVI) - Eisenbahn-Bau- und Betriebsordnung (EBO)
- In light of the accident at the unprotected railway crossing in Kusel, there is a need for a discussion about politics and general-news related to safety improvements.
- Given the tragic accident at the railway crossing in Kusel, it is crucial to emphasize crash-and-justice issues by reviewing past incidents and inquiring about potential safety measures for such unguarded crossings.
