The shock after the fatal train accident at the Grainau Waldwinkl level crossing around one and a half weeks ago is deep - and has raised the security issue.
But the chances that a barrier will be installed there are slim.
Because the less frequented location is considered uncritical.
Grainau
- Many people shouldn't forget the pictures of the Fiat that was torn in two on the railway line in Grainau.
The horror accident happened on Sunday afternoon a week and a half ago.
An 83-year-old local resident, as the police reported at the time, apparently overlooked the red light at the open level crossing on Waldwinkl Street and was swept away with his car by a railcar of the Bavarian Zugspitzbahn (BZB).
Any help came too late for the senior: he succumbed to his serious injuries on site.
Discussions with responsible bodies
The question arises: Could this accident have been prevented at a secured level crossing? In any case, Grainau's mayor Stephan Märkl (CSU) does not want to simply put the matter aside. The town hall chief works to ensure that a barrier is installed at the location. “That would be safest,” the local politician is convinced. “We will initiate that.” Märkl is assuming a review and discussions with the responsible departments.
Meanwhile, the BZB has already determined the legal situation internally and has come to a sobering result: "We have no handle," sums up Verena Altenhofen, who is responsible for communication at the subsidiary of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen municipal works. According to the current state of affairs, a barrier system is not possible there. The background is complicated - and bureaucratic: According to research by the BZB, the legal requirements for the aforementioned upgrade are not met. The street would have to be at least 5.50 meters wide so that there is still enough space (at least 2.75 meters) to clear the area even when the barrier is closed. At the Waldwinkl, however, it is only 3.80 meters. The roadway is therefore too narrow.
"The level crossing itself, as well as its security, corresponds in all respects to the current set of rules, which was also confirmed in the course of the last inspection by the railway supervisory authority," says Altenhofen.
During the most recent inspection - experts talk about “level crossing shows” - this was also classified as uncritical in terms of frequency.
According to the BZB spokeswoman, the level crossing is mainly used by residents and is considered to be poorly traveled.
The volume is below the threshold of 100 cars a day.
Normally, the establishment of a barrier system is only considered for values above this mark.
The railway supervision, the municipality of Grainau, the police, the BZB and the district office are involved in the regular inspections.
The level crossing was built 90 years ago
The crossing at the Waldwinkl has existed for 90 years, it was created in the course of the construction of the railway line. The light signal system was added in the early 1980s. It was active on the day of the accident. As a rule, the trains there - like the inner-city car traffic - travel at a moderate 40 to 50 kilometers per hour. The maximum permissible speed is 60.
It is unclear why the fatally injured Grainauer did not notice the red light signal.
The elderly gentleman reportedly lived nearby, so he knew the situation very well.
The section is clear and is not considered a danger point.
Possibly, it is believed, the man was blinded by the glaring sun that afternoon.
The case lies with the Munich II public prosecutor's office. There they hold back: “The investigations in the above-mentioned proceedings are ongoing.
I cannot provide any further information at the moment, ”says press spokeswoman Andrea Mayer.
