As of: November 16, 2023 1:42 p.m
After a train collision near Lauenbrück (Rotenburg district), the railway line between Hamburg and Bremen is only accessible to a limited extent. The federal police expect a lengthy investigation.
“We are investigating every possible form of human and technical error,” a police spokesman said on Thursday. To do this, extensive traces would have to be secured. The Bremen Federal Police Inspectorate and the Federal Bureau of Railway Accident Investigation (BEU), based in Bonn, are responsible for the case, said the spokesman. The railway is also supporting the authorities in the investigation, a spokeswoman told NDR Lower Saxony. The accident near Lauenbrück occurred on Wednesday afternoon; the exact cause of the accident was not initially known.
Trains no longer operational
On the journey from Hamburg to Munich, the ICE615 hit a regional train that was standing on a switch despite braking, as the Bremen Federal Police announced. The express train was already traveling at a reduced speed of 80 kilometers per hour due to a switch. According to federal police, the accident occurred at a speed of around 50 kilometers per hour.
Track accessible again
The police said that around 550 passengers on the ICE and the railway employees on both trains were not injured in the collision. However, the trains were so badly damaged by the accident that both were no longer operational. Heavy equipment is therefore required to rescue them. The route was therefore completely closed. A track at the accident site has been accessible again since late Wednesday evening – but at a greatly reduced speed, it was said.
Possible diversion via freight train route
As soon as the BEU has cleared the accident site, the ICE and the multiple unit can be towed away and the second track can be used again, the railway spokeswoman told NDR Lower Saxony. However, it is unclear whether the clearance will come during the day and how long the clearance work will take afterwards. According to the authorities, a third track that is only used for freight traffic could alternatively serve as a type of bypass for long-distance traffic. The authorities say that this is also being examined.
videos
All trains were diverted on Wednesday
All ICE, EC and IC trains that ran between Hamburg, Bremen and Osnabrück on Wednesday evening were rerouted. The stops in Bremen main station and Diepholz were omitted. According to the company, metronome trains from Bremen had already turned around in Scheeßel, and trains from Hamburg had already turned around in Tostedt. According to the information, an emergency bus service (BNV) between the two stops, with an intermediate stop in Lauenbrück, was set up.
Another ICE picked up stranded passengers
After the accident, the passengers on the ICE train involved were guided on foot to Lauenbrück train station. According to a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn, an ICE train from Bremen was deployed in the evening to pick up the passengers stranded in Lauenbrück. According to the information, the train should at least travel to Stuttgart despite the nationwide train driver warning strike that began on Wednesday evening. The Metronom railway company set up a replacement bus service for its passengers as well as a hotel train for those waiting at Tostedt station, the company announced.
Warning strike by train drivers: emergency manager and hotline
Because of the train drivers’ warning strike, a railway emergency manager was on site to help the passengers, said a spokesman for the Bremen Federal Police. Deutsche Bahn also provides information on travel options free of charge Hotline (0800) 99 66 33.
Further information
Listen to it at any time
