An ICE train of the Deutsche Bahn. © dpa Wolfgang Thieme
Near collision of two long-distance trains between Freilassing and Traunstein: For reasons that are still unclear, two trains drove towards each other near Teisendorf. A collision could be prevented.
An ÖBB Railjet train. © Liberal Humanist - Wikipedia
Teisendorf - Around 21:15 p.m. on Thursday (Corpus Christi), an ICE train carrying 150 passengers was on its way from Munich to Salzburg, the federal police in Freilassing confirmed a report by the PNP. On the same track, he was approached by a Railjet long-distance train of the Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB with 86 passengers on board.
Trains came to a halt only 80 meters apart
Both train drivers initiated emergency braking, and the trains came to a halt near Teisendorf (Berchtesgadener Land district) only about 80 meters apart. The braking distance of a train is considerably longer than that of a car. No one was injured. One of the two trains then drove backwards to the next switch, where it was maneuvered onto the right track, after which the trains were able to continue their journey together with the passengers, according to the Federal Police. The railway line was closed until shortly before 23 p.m. There were also delays on other trains, the Federal Police adds the delays to 500 minutes, according to PNP.
The Munich-Salzburg railway line is actually double-tracked so that trains can meet and pass each other without collision. Why one of the two trains was diverted onto the wrong track is the subject of investigations by the Federal Police. A spokesman speaks of a possible "technical defect". At the time of the event, there were violent thunderstorms in the region.
A lightning strike in a signal box is possible, but human error is also being examined. However, a comparison with the collision of two commuter trains near Bad Aibling in 2016 with twelve deaths is exaggerated. At that time, "Both train drivers were ordered to drive only at 40 km/h on sight, so they were able to brake in time when they saw the oncoming train."
