- Vehicle, specifically a truck, plunges off a bridge onto the adjacent railway track, thereby causing its temporary closure.
At a railway station west of Cologne in Kerpen, a delivery truck plummeted from an overpass onto the tracks at midday. The 42-year-old driver sustained critical injuries and was admitted to an intensive care unit in a local hospital, as per the police. A drug test conducted on him resulted in a positive outcome, prompting a subsequent blood test.
It was also reported that the incident caused damage to the high-voltage lines on the tracks. As a result, the railway line connecting Cologne and Aachen has been shut down. A spokesperson for Deutsche Bahn stated that the truck needs to be retrieved first to clear the tracks, as the overhead lines have been damaged across multiple tracks. Any potential damage to the tracks or technical facilities can only be assessed once the truck has been recovered.
Plans for the recovery of the truck are underway, with assistance from a crane situated along the railway. While the timeline for the recovery remains uncertain, the spokesperson shared that the railway hopes to clear the track as soon as possible. The truck contained 40 tons of granulate, none of which poses a risk, according to the police. However, the truck's fuel tank was damaged, leading to a fuel leak.
As a consequence of the track closure, long-distance traffic between Cologne and Brussels is experiencing delays and cancellations. ICE trains have been redirected and are facing an additional 90-minute delay. Trains bound for or departing from Aachen are beginning and ending their journeys in Cologne, with skipped stops in Düren and Aachen.
Regional traffic is also disrupted, with the RE 1 (RRX), RE 9, S 12, and S 19 lines affected. As no concrete plans are currently in place for these lines, individual short-term measures are being taken for each train journey. A replacement bus service has been established between Düren and Cologne, along with Horrem and Cologne, with the Cologne-Ehrenfeld stop omitted.
Rail and road traffic disruptions have been reported, with about 60 passengers on a nearby train needing assistance due to grounded high-voltage lines. After care from the fire department, the train was safely evacuated with no reported injuries.
Witnesses spotted the delivery truck veering off the road around 11:50 AM and crashing through the bridge railing, ultimately coming to rest on the tracks. The cause of the incident remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing to determine the culprit. Disruptions in rail traffic and hindrances to road traffic are expected to be unavoidable.
The accident led to significant damage to the high-voltage lines, resulting in a complete shutdown of the railway line connecting Cologne and Aachen. Due to the damaged fuel tank, a fuel leak was also reported.
