Title: Ongoing Investigations After ICE Collision in Upper Bavaria
This week, probes are underway to determine the exact causes of a sideways collision between an InterCity Express (ICE) train and a local train at Reichertshausen station in Upper Bavaria on Friday afternoon. The accident led to minor injuries for seven individuals, while approximately 700 passengers were onboard the two trains.
According to the federal police station in Nuremberg, the drivers of both trains and the dispatcher are set to be interrogated in the upcoming days and weeks. The spokesperson mentioned that experts from the Federal Railway Accident Investigation Bureau (BEU) have been at the scene since the accident, gathering evidence for their report. Nevertheless, it is expected that the report will take some time to compile.
The Federal Police is investigating the case on suspicion of dangerous interference with rail traffic, but it is unclear at this stage whether human error or a technical defect was responsible for the collision. One track at the station remains closed for repairs, resulting in delays and cancellations on regional services. Deutsche Bahn said there is no estimated reopening date for the track yet, and both trains are being inspected in the workshop for damage assessment.
In the aftermath of the incident, concerns about traffic safety on Bavaria's railroads have been raised. Despite the impact on service, it's crucial to conduct in-depth investigations to avoid future collisions on these lines.
Enrichment Insights:
Although the article does not mention it, there was a recent train accident in Germany where a high-speed train collided with a semi-trailer at a railway in Hamburg, resulting in one death and 11 injuries. Deutsche Bahn (DB) has been focusing on improving safety and security measures in the wake of sabotage incidents that affected rail traffic in northern Germany, which may suggest a broader commitment to preventing accidents.
To mitigate risks of train collisions, DB, and other railway companies are likely to adopt a mix of technical upgrades, increased surveillance, and improved communication protocols. The exact measures intended to prevent collisions with vehicles like semi-trailers have not been provided in the available sources.
