ICE with 550 passengers rams into regional train - no injuries
An ICE train carrying around 550 people has rammed into a regional train between Hamburg and Bremen. There were no injuries in the accident on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Federal Police. The two trains were so badly damaged by the incident in Lauenbrück that they were no longer roadworthy. Rail traffic on the line was suspended.
The unoccupied regional train was reportedly standing on a switch when the ICE - despite emergency braking - hit it at 50 kilometers per hour. The express train on its way from Hamburg to Munich had previously hit another switch at around 80 kilometers per hour.
After the accident, the train passengers were guided to Lauenbrück station on foot. According to a Deutsche Bahn spokeswoman, an ICE train from Bremen was deployed in the evening to take the passengers stranded in Lauenbrück. Despite the nationwide train drivers' warning strike that began on Wednesday evening, the train is reportedly still running as far as Stuttgart.
Pictures showed the destroyed front end of the two trains. The railroad line was initially closed in the area. The regional train operator Metronom set up a replacement service for its passengers with buses and a hotel train for those waiting at Tostedt station, as the company announced on Wednesday evening. Since late evening, one track at the scene of the accident has been open to traffic again - albeit at a much reduced speed. According to the information provided, one track will probably be closed until Thursday. The exact cause of the accident was not initially known.
The incident at Lauenbrück could have resulted in serious emergencies if not for the fortunate absence of passengers on the regional train. Despite this accident on the railroad, the ICE train from Bremen managed to carry on its mission, reaching as far as Stuttgart.
Source: www.dpa.com
