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Six hurt as train derails in Berlin

Published: 21 Aug 12 14:26 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20120821-44489.html

Six people were hurt in Berlin when a train came off the tracks at lunchtime on Tuesday. Emergency workers said they were glad the incident was not more serious.

“We arrived with heavy cutting machinery and many emergency personnel,” Berlin fire brigade spokesman Wolfgang Rowenhagen told the N24 broadcaster.

“We are very happy that there are only six people injured,” he said.

Around 150 emergency workers raced to the spot in northern Berlin where the S25 suburban train had come off the tracks. Two carriages were completely off the rails at the accident site between the Tegel and Schulzendorf stations.

Around 50 people were in the train at the time of the accident, which happened just before midday. Those who were hurt had mostly suffered bruising as their carriage fell sideways and they were thrown around inside.

The train was yesterday left where it came to a halt while engineers tried to work out what had caused the accident.

The S-Bahn, operated by Deutsche Bahn, has been plagued with problems over the last few years, such as repeated breakdowns in the winter and a shortage of drivers. A third of the system is being put up to private tender in a bid to reduce the public subsidy and improve service.

DAPD/DPA/The Local/hc

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

19:43 August 21, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
Well without knowing the full details of what happened I guess this is another nail in DB's coffin. It is about time this service was run by someone who gives a S%!# about the Berlin S-Bahn customers.
20:17 August 21, 2012 by The-ex-pat
Makes a change from reading about bus crashes........................
20:29 August 21, 2012 by Simon_Kellett
Of course no-one is reporting the number of people who died in car crashes today, and every day !!
21:43 August 21, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
So Simon you think it is OK for the rail and airline industries to relax on safety because more people die in car crashes? Hopefully not and what you really mean is the roads should be made safer for cars, cyclists and pedestrians. However with the all powerful Auto industry deciding how the world shall go around I think this will not happen in our lifetimes however short they end up being.
02:57 August 22, 2012 by Zlik
Also today, coincidence in an accident in 2nd Ave. subway. What r the odds.
06:45 August 22, 2012 by sally#
Tough there only six people injured , the accident is still horrific.The public transportation should be 100% safe.
07:38 August 22, 2012 by rfwilson
@ sally#

"The public transportation should be 100% safe."

Don't be so naive! NOTHING can ever be 100% safe!
20:20 August 23, 2012 by strahlungsamt
Last time I was in Berlin, I waited for an S-Bahn at Schoenefeld Airport and it to 90 minutes to arrive. And even then it kept stopping and starting the whole way in. Delays of 20 minutes or more are not unusual now on a system that used to be the best in Europe.

This all started when the DB brought in accountants who thought a great way to save money was to cut back on repair shops, among other things and let the trains run in dangerous conditions. Meanwhile the DB is the most heavily funded organization in Germany. Somebody's lining their pockets at commuters' expense.
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