A train crash devastated Bad Aibling, a spa town 60 km south-east of Munich, on the ninth of February witnessed a serious railway accident in which two passenger trains collided at full speed. Ten people were killed in the train crash and countless many were injured, out of which 18 were severe. The investigators believe that human error may be the reason behind this disaster, although a thorough investigation is being conducted on why a train that left Holzkirchen travelling east to Rosenheim was on a single track four minutes after it was due to reach it’s next stop at Kolbermoor, where it would have met the west bound train on a double track, thus avoiding the collision.
The train crash occurred on a Monday morning on a single-track commuter line between Rosenheim and Holzkirchen. The line is fitted with a modern safety system that slows the train down if it is going too fast and then stops it automatically if it runs a red signal. Drivers also get a warning on their cab if there is any kind of error in the system. The speed of the trains suggest that neither had any kind of warning. Both train drivers and two train guards were among those killed instantly. Emergency teams, who were winched in by helicopters, worked for hours trying to free the casualties and the injured from the wreckage. Both trains travelling at about 100kilometers per hour, collided in a densely vegetated region near the Mangfall River. The difficult terrain made the rescue mission difficult. Rescue workers completed their search for further victims early on Wednesday. No more were found or reported missing.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel said that she was ‘dismayed’ by the tragic train crash. Investigators have so far recovered two ‘black box’ from the wreckage and are still looking for the third.
Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt informed that the first black box had already been analysed. No technical fault or driver error has been discovered on the westbound train whatsoever. He also added that the black box of the eastbound train was of more importance as it was travelling late when the collision occurred.
The rail cars involved in the train crash got mangled with each other and were partially derailed. A 160-tonne crane was brought on scene on Wednesday to remove the crushed trains from site.
The incident puzzles the world because of it’s occurring despite all the safety measures being taken. New details about the train crash are expected to be revealed in the coming days.
Written by Shiladitya.
