- Train track collides with heavy-duty vehicle in Cologne-Aachen area.
A large vehicle ended up on the rail tracks between Cologne and Aachen, which are also utilized for high-speed trains bound for Brussels. The tracks remain shut indefinitely. Efforts to retrieve the vehicle will take place overnight on Friday, as reported by a railway spokesperson on Friday evening.
In the early afternoon on Friday, the truck toppled from a bridge onto the tracks at Kerpen station, positioned west of Cologne. The 42-year-old driver sustained critical injuries and was transferred to an intensive care unit in the hospital, according to the police. A drug test on the driver proved positive, necessitating the collection of a blood sample.
The aboveground power lines of the railway track were harmed. "The truck must be retrieved first to clear the tracks," a spokeswoman from Deutsche Bahn told the German Press Agency. "After that, the cleanup and repair of the lines can begin." Additional damage to the tracks or mechanical installations can only be determined after the vehicle's recovery.
Recovery scheduled
"We are at present arranging to retrieve the truck utilizing a crane and anticipate that the tracks will be reopened as soon as possible," a railway spokeswoman said. However, it is currently unfeasible to estimate when this will take place. The vehicle was transporting 40 metric tons of granulate, which also needs to be retrieved.
According to the police, the granulate does not pose a threat. However, the impact caused damage to the vehicle's fuel tank, leading to a fuel leakage.
As a result of the track closure, there are delays and cancellations in long-distance transportation. High-speed trains between Cologne and Brussels are being redirected, resulting in additional delays of about 90 minutes. IC and ICE trains with destinations or starting points in Aachen are commencing and ending in Cologne. The stops in Düren and Aachen are not being serviced.
Similar delays, partial cancellations, and cancellations are occurring in regional transportation. A substitute bus service has been instated between Düren and Cologne, along with Horrem and Cologne. The stop in Cologne-Ehrenfeld is not being catered to.
Track remains closed
"The truck accident in Kerpen is momentarily causing substantial disruptions to rail traffic," National Express stated in response to an inquiry. "Based on the disruption prediction from DB InfraGo, the track is expected to remain closed until at least the conclusion of the day. Nevertheless, it is likely that the disruptions will persist into tomorrow's operations and beyond."
The company is affected by the closure due to line RE 1 (RRX), which traverses between Aachen and Hamm. Trains are not running between Cologne and Düren. A substitute bus service has been launched. However, individual cancellations and reroutes might also take place on the remainder of the route.
Disruptions in both rail and road traffic
According to the police, a train carrying approximately 60 passengers was stationed near the crash site. The train was unable to proceed because the high-voltage line had to be grounded for safety reasons.
Police reported that witnesses observed the truck swerve off the road on an overpass at around 11:50 a.m., break through the bridge railing, and descend onto the tracks. The cause of the incident remains unclear, as a spokesperson said. Investigations are ongoing.
The retrieval of the truck from The Aachen-bound rail tracks, where it ended up after the accident near Kerpen station, is scheduled for recovery using a crane. Due to the vehicle's presence and the subsequent fuel leakage, the high-speed trains bound for Brussels via Cologne and Aachen continue to face delays and cancellations.
