Train collision: inquiry ongoing beyond two years

Paraphrased Headline: Ski resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen under the spotlight. - Train collision: inquiry hasn't ended yet over two years.

For Elisabeth Koch, the memories are still fresh. "I can still remember every second of it. It's imprinted on me deeply," says the mayor of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. As a CSU politician, she was attending a wedding when the alarm went off: A train derailment had taken place in the Burgrain district.

At the time, it was unclear what had occurred. Sirens from emergency vehicles echoed through the area - Koch quickly headed towards the accident site. A regional train bound for Munich had derailed, injuring people were being extracted, but the death toll was unknown. Tragically, five individuals - including four women and a thirteen-year-old - lost their lives, and 78 others suffered severe injuries.

"It was an incident that caused so much pain and suffering," says Koch. The circumstances of the accident must be fully understood. "Was it preventable - or was it just an accident?"

Two years later, the inquiry remains unfinished. The Federal Railway Accident Investigation Office (BEU) has thus far only released a provisional report and identified damaged concrete sleepers as the primary cause.

The railway agrees. "In the past year alone, we have replaced half a million sleepers, approximately five times more than usual," confirms a representative. This year, similar renovations are planned. Additional material-technical examinations have detected irregularities in the composition of the sleepers. A certain type of rock used to create the concrete sleepers might potentially be a factor. Tougher standards now dictate the categorization of damaged sleepers produced with that identical material.

The liability issue remains unresolved. In December 2023, the Munich II Public Prosecutor's Office pressed charges against three railway employees for negligent manslaughter and bodily harm. No trial date has been set yet. "A decision on the admissibility of the charges has not yet been made," said a court spokesperson.

The railway has taken action and deployed funds toward reviewing and renovating the railway network. Still, criticisms about previous neglect persist. Experts argue that regular maintenance should have commenced much earlier.

For decades, there had been an accumulation of appointments. Even though a reversal has now begun, it will take years for tracks and technologies to be brought up to scratch. "In Switzerland and Austria, more money was invested in the past," adds Andreas Schroeder, deputy federal chairman of the passenger association Pro Bahn. We're now paying the price for the infrastructure's neglect. Both financing and factors like personnel planning, operational methods, and error culture are involved.

There were suspicions surrounding a possible warning that could have been circulated prior to the incident. Previous media accounts, such as the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung," reported on a report from a locomotive driver who allegedly observed something "unusual" around that time.

Some speculated about a potential link involving the relocation of a stream related to the B2 federal highway's expansion about two decades ago. The watercourse now runs between the highway and the track. The water could have contributed to the embankment's instability, stated Hamburg transport counselor Dieter Doege and Michael Jung from the environmental group Prellbock Altona in July 2022.

The Munich II public prosecutor contracted an expert to examine the geological conditions in the accident area. It's possible that the embankment was also to blame, noted a railway spokesperson. As a precaution, the section's speed was reduced. However, further study revealed that the embankment was stable.

Following the collision, the railway initiated a 100 million euro investment program for the Werdenfels and Oberland lines. Efforts were being made to improve the quality and steadiness in rail transportation.

In the area, there has been a calls for a two-track expansion of the Munich - Garmisch-Partenkirchen corridor for a long time. Tourist traffic from day-trippers often strains the region. A partial two-track extension would be beneficial, says the Garmisch-Partenkirchen town hall chief Koch. A half-hourly service - "which would also relieve the road" - is preferable. According to the railway, only half-hourly trains operate in the primary direction during rush hour.

Some parts of the incident sparked debate about how a warning concerning a potential problem at the subsequent crash location could not have been circulated before the derailment. According to previous reports - like in the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" - a locomotive driver's report wasn't shared. The driver had noticed something "suspicious" according to chronicles.

Further speculation centered on a possible connection with the relocation of a stream regarding the B2 federal highway's expansion around 20 years ago. Now, the watercourse runs between the highway and the tracks. The water might have contributed to the embankment's instability, according to Hamburg transportation advisor Dieter Doege and Michael Jung from the environmental group Prellbock Altona in July 2022.

The Munich II public prosecutor tasked an expert to investigate the geological conditions at the accident location. It cannot be excluded that the embankment played a role, noted the railway spokesperson. To be extra cautious, the section's speed was lowered. Unfortunately, additional examinations indicated that the embankment was safe.

In response to the collision, the railway established a 100 million euro investment plan for the Werdenfels and Oberland railways. There have been concerted efforts to boost quality and stability in rail travel.

In the region, there have been long-standing calls for a two-track extension of the Munich-Garmisch-Partenkirchen avenue. The tourist traffic from day-trippers frequently pressures the area. Partial two-track expansion would help, states Garmisch-Partenkirchen town hall head Koch. A half-hourly service - "which would also alleviate the road" - would be advantageous. Based on railway insights, only half-hourly trains operate in the primary direction during peak hours.

This year, there won't be an official ceremony. However, the memory of the incident still lingers in the area. The same is true for the railway: "Especially during the anniversary of the accident, our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and anyone who came to aid at the scene."