10 people die in a train crash in Germany

[michael blunck]

At least 10 people died and 20 .. 30 people were severely wounded in one of the most severe train crashes in Germany since years, when last saturday night, the "HarzEXpress" (a 2-piece DMU) by private carrier Veolia, hit a heavy freight train (also by a private carrier) in a head-on collision near Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt.

Collision happened on a single track piece, when the "HEX" train Magdeburg- Halberstadt, driving at a speed of 100 km/h, ran into a freight train, carrying lime and running at a speed of 80 km/h, near the village of Hordorf.

Apparently, in that night, construction works had been under way on that particular track. In which way this could have been affected the accident, has to be still examined.

Pictures: http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotos ... 094-5.html

regards
Michael

[audigex]

Very sad, I'm only surprised there weren't more deaths, it looks nasty. Presumably the fact one was a freight train "helped", and the other was only small, but still.

[Hyronymus]

By looking at the images you indeed think it could've been far more worse. Still, 10 people died and many are seriously injured.

Michael: I heard there were track works going on at this section. Is that correct and if so, I bet the investigation is focussing on that.

[Illegal_Alien]

Hmm, the HEX, bene on that train few years ago, arent those Carodia Lints?

[michael blunck]

Michael: I heard there were track works going on at this section. Is that correct and if so, I bet the investigation is focussing on that.

Well, it turned out that track works were going on at a quite different location on that line. Latest news are that this particular single track line still not got fitted with PZB (in 20 years after DR/DB merger), and it seems that the driver of the 2700 ton freight train overran a red signal w/o emergency brake application.

[...] arent those Carodia Lints?

Yes, LINT 41.

regards
Michael

[oberhümer]

Latest news are that this particular single track line still not got fitted with PZB (in 20 years after DR/DB merger) ...

Just when it looked like the Deutsche Bahn might not have been involved for once...

[michael blunck]

Just when it looked like the Deutsche Bahn might not have been involved for once...

Well, legally PZB (the most cost-effective train protection system) needs only to be installed for lines with allowed speeds of more than 100 km/h, which was not the case here. Former East-German DR even allowed 120 km/h w/o PZB.

Meanwhile, there´s increasing indication that the driver of the freight train overran both the advance signal and the main signal. The freight train also forced open the points of the track cleared for the HEX. Apparently, the station inspector still tried to warn the engineer by radio but to no avail.

regards
Michael

[Hyronymus]

In The Netherlands there is a discussion about freight train drivers and their ever shorter education/training they receive. Is that the same in Germany?

EDIT: did the freight train driver survive the collision btw?

[michael blunck]

EDIT: did the freight train driver survive the collision btw?

Yes, he did.

ATM, it´s still unclear if he was in the front or in the second engine[*] of the freight train during the collision.

[*] double traction, see
http://www.spiegel.de/images/image-1749 ... r-rooc.jpg

Here´s a picture of that particular MaK G1700:
http://www.bahnbilder.de/bilder/mak-g-1700-330887.jpg


Nevertheless, the freight train´s front MaK still looks distinguishable whereas the LINT has been totally scrapped until the fourth or fifth windows.

Another proof that modern rail cars cannot survive a more severe collision. Just have a look at that BR612 which collided with a truck on a level crossing at Wernigerode in the same week:

612_wernigerode.jpg (67.08 KiB) Viewed 1793 times

regards
Michael

[Kevo00]

Nevertheless, the freight train´s front MaK still looks distinguishable whereas the LINT has been totally scrapped until the fourth or fifth windows.

Another proof that modern rail cars cannot survive a more severe collision. Just have a look at that BR612 which collided with a truck on a level crossing at Wernigerode in the same week:

If that had been an older train, it would have been much much worse. The carriage is practically intact behind the cab, which is clearly designed to be a crumple zone. There would just be a pile of wood there if it was an old carriage...

[Ameecher]

Compared to a locomotive being on the front though...

All you have to do is look at the freight loco, quite bent but largely in one piece.

[ostlandr]

Ouch. Even in Germany, these things happen. This is why the FRA here in the US is mandating Positive Train Control (PTC.) The PZB system sounds like an inexpensive alternative for low-density lines.