Tank container tears off overhead line and paralyzes railroad line
In the south of Munich, around 70 passengers were evacuated from a long-distance train to Vienna during the night. According to the federal police, the train had come to a standstill on the open track shortly after midnight because the overhead line in the area of the former southern station had been torn off over a length of around one hundred meters.
Nobody was injured in the incident. The passengers were reportedly transported by cab. The affected railroad line initially remained closed, but traffic was to continue via a parallel track.
Property damage in the six-figure range
According to initial investigations, the damage was caused by a slipped tank container on a freight train that had passed the Südbahnhof site at around 10.00 pm. The damage to property was estimated at more than 100,000 euros. The freight train loaded with hazardous goods had been located at Laim station. However, no liquids were reported to have escaped during the incident.
According to the investigation, the container, which had slipped and damaged several overhead line masts, was empty. Why it was not properly secured was still being investigated on Saturday. The police had initially also investigated on suspicion of deliberate interference with rail traffic.
The investigation into the tank container incident in Munich revealed that the damaged overhead line masts were near the route of a train headed to Vienna from the Federal Police's database. The rail disruption caused by the incident prompted the train authorities to arrange alternative transport for passengers, with some trains scheduled to redirect their route via Munich's International Airport.
Source: www.ntv.de
