Chronic Miscommunication and Neglected Rail Maintenance: The Garmisch Train Disaster of Three Years Ago
Train collision in Garmisch claims five lives, with the cause attributed to a sudden surge in passengers.
Hark back to 2019, a regional train slammed off the tracks near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, claiming five lives and leaving over seventy people injured. The fate of those involved was due to a perfect storm of laggard rail maintenance and internal miscommunication within the railway, according to the Federal Bureau of Railway Accident Investigation (BEA) final report.
On that dreadful day, a train driver filed a report about an issue at the catastrophic site, but it failed to reach its destination. The BEA bitterly criticized the lack of oversight in the preservation of older rail sleepers.
Did You Know? So, how does Deutsche Bahn (DB) roll? Find out about this massive transportation company here! →
In June 2022, yet another train derailment cast a pall over the tranquility of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, when a regional train plummeted off the tracks. Four women and a 13-year-old lost their lives, while 78 souls bore the pain of injuries, some severe. A criminal investigation into the tragedy remains ongoing, with two railway personnel accused of negligent homicide and bodily harm. Yet, fate has not set a trial date as of yet.
Previously, the BEA had concluded a battered coupling of sleepers was the primary culprit in the condolence-worthy collision of 2019. Now, the final report adds that an altered process to detect internal damage from chemical decay in older sleepers may have thwarted the disaster.
Newsflash! Railroad rumblings aren't merely local, Swiss authorities have raised concerns about the same brakes employed by the German train agency in the Alpine tunnel incident of 2022. →
Post-accident, DB embarked on an ambitious mission to rectify equipment, already exchanging over 1.7 million sleepers. A cadre of internal and external experts has been assembled to probe further preventative maintenance measures.
Regulations for surveying have been tightened, and stringent standards have been set for classifying damaged sleepers. Once again, DB extended its sympathies to those who lost their loved ones, sharing the anguish of those affected by the heartbreaking event.
Sources: ntv.de, jwu/dpa | Topics: Infrastructure Investments, German Rail, Traffic Accidents
By the Way... (Did You Know?)
- More about the German Rail (Deutsche Bahn):
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is one of the world's largest transport companies, which came into existence in 1994, following the German reunification. It operates worldwide, with numerous affiliates and subsidiaries. DB's primary focus areas include rail transport, logistics, and mobility services. In recent times, DB Group has launched initiatives like DB Solar and DB Cargo Green, aimed at minimizing the railway's carbon footprint.
- Fresh Insights:
According to data, DB Group reported a revenue of €58.18 billion in 2020, with a 900,000-strong workforce across its global operations. Additionally, it is interesting to note that during the COVID-19 pandemic, DB experienced an overnight passenger drop of 96%, highlighting the severe impact of global crises on the transport sector. →
- The community policy of Deutsche Bahn includes provisions for vocational training, as they aim to assemble a cadre of internal and external experts to probe further preventative maintenance measures.
- In line with the general-news involving recent train accidents, the finance department of Deutsche Bahn is actively engaging in infrastructure investments to ensure the safety of rail transportation.
- To prevent car-accidents from happening in the communities served by Deutsche Bahn, they are not only focused on rail maintenance but also expanding their mobility services to provide alternative transportation options.
