An ecumenical memorial service for the victims of the February 14 S-Bahn accident was held in St. Benedict about 500 meters from the scene of the accident.
The following day the wreckage of the southern power car of the S-Bahn was removed.
Schäftlarn
- The train accident on Valentine's Day in Ebenhausen, in which a 24-year-old passenger died and 18 people were injured, not only deeply shook the Isar Valley community.
An ecumenical memorial service was held in St. Benedict on Friday.
On Saturday, the wreckage of the southern power car of the S-Bahn, which had jumped off the tracks in the accident, was hoisted with a crane from the main road onto a special low-loader and transported via the B 11 and through Munich to Gräfelfing.
Among the visitors to the service were Transport Minister Kerstin Schreyer, Munich's police chief Thomas Hampel and the two deputy district leaders of the Munich Red Cross, Edith Amann and Michael Schönberger.
Numerous citizens and volunteers from the fire brigade also attended.
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Transport: The S-Bahn wreck was taken away from the scene of the accident on a special transporter on Saturday.
© Thomas Gaulke
"We have derailed, our lives have gotten off track," said Pastor Stefan Scheifele, describing the situation caused by the accident.
He and his evangelical colleague Elke Soellner as well as pastor Sabine Sommer and pastoral officer Ingrid Karl conjured up the image of a wheel broken into four parts.
In the first part, Sommer remembered the deceased Mustafa from Afghanistan.
"His death hit us," she says.
The 24-year-old sat at the front of the train.
"He had plans, wanted to do his high school diploma." Mustafa came to Germany alone in 2018 and last lived in the communal asylum accommodation in Wolfratshausen.
Now his mother and younger brother had to be informed about the accident - "and with it the hope of a better life buried.
The pastor also remembered the seriously injured.
“They are not only wounded in body but also in soul.
The way back is difficult.
The moment of the collision shattered their lives.”
Appreciated the help of the helpers
Scheifele put himself in the position of the numerous rescue workers on site, who did their best, regardless of whether they were volunteers or professionally.
"They used their power to confront this impotence." But one shouldn't forget their families and their fears.
"Suddenly there is a loud bang, then the siren wails, the relative runs off," said Scheifele, who was also at the scene of the accident on Monday evening, explaining what happened.
"Suddenly helicopters are circling - and you know it's not a normal mission." At the time of the accident, many were waiting for members of their families to return home.
"Where are you, are you okay?" was asked with concern on all available channels," said Soellner.
The light-heartedness has been lost, “the fear will come along in the future.
Just as the first car will remain empty,” the pastor continued.
“What gives us support and security now?” She puts her hope in faith.
“Fear must not get the upper hand.
Once we feel the power of God, the waves of fear subside.”
joy of togetherness
Nevertheless, and despite the many unanswered questions, there are also reasons to feel grateful.
"For the many rescue workers and helpers who gave us peace and security, for the cohesion and helpfulness in the village community," Karl lists a few points.
"This gratitude," she says, returning to the picture of the wheel, "makes the circle round again." Because when you put all four parts back together, a cross with a hub in the middle emerges - a sign of a thwarted life plan, fear, suffering, loss.
"But death doesn't have the last word.
The center holds everything together and is founded in God,” emphasizes Karl.
"In the midst of distress there is also that which saves."
