Latest news with #DeutscheBahn
DW
9 hours ago
- DW
German holiday blues: Slow train to the coast – DW – 07/27/2025
Germany's national railway Deutsche Bahn is notoriously unreliable. DW's Jens Thurau reports on his troubled train journey from Berlin to the North Sea coast and back. A summer trip the North Sea island of Föhr is a brilliant idea, I thought. I can switch off my news feeds and forget all about wars, about Donald Trump, far-right populism and the desolate state of German infrastructure. Once I make it to Föhr, I can just sit on the beach all day, gaze out at the sea and relax. I booked a nice hotel and decided to take the morning train directly from Berlin to Dagebüll, the small town on the coast from which ferries depart for the island. This would be a relaxed and environmentally friendly start to the trip with my girlfriend to the Wadden Sea. Or so we thought. We should have known better. Of course, we have heard, for example, that Switzerland — where 98% to 99% of all trains run exactly on time — has stopped allowing trains from Germany to cross the border because they are notoriously unpunctual. Only 62% are on schedule. Now, passengers coming from Germany have to change onto Swiss trains in Basel, so as not to disrupt the traffic flow in our neighbor to the south. However, on our trip up north, everything was fine. At first. Our train left Berlin on time, and we got as far as Niebüll. In this small town in North Frisia, the train is separated into two parts: The first travels on to Sylt, the party island for the wealthy. The other goes on directly to Dagebüll with its ferry pier. Theoretically. Just before we got to Niebüll there was an announcement: "Today, the entire train is going to Sylt. Anyone who wants to go to Föhr must get off in Niebüll and take the regional train to Dagebüll." That's OK, we thought, it won't upend our plans. Admittedly, getting our suitcases off the fast train and onto the hopelessly overcrowded regional train was not exactly how we had imagined the start of our vacation. There was no information on the reasons for this change in schedule, but we were unfazed. We have become accustomed to coping with the unexpected changes in itineraries and timetables of Deutsche Bahn. There are plenty of stories about trains that have broken down, turned back or been delayed for hours, for which no one seems to be responsible. When we eventually arrived on Föhr, everything was just what we had hoped for. We gazed at the sea. Even the fact that most pubs, bars and restaurants only accept cash payments and no credit cards was a problem only for a few international tourists. But we all know that Germany just needs a little more time to catch up with the world on technological developments. We remember former German Chancellor Angela Merkel telling us in 2013 that the internet was "Neuland" ("uncharted territory"). That's just how it is in one of the world's leading industrial nations. The railways fit right into this picture. For decades, very little was invested in the approximately 33,500 kilometers (20,800 miles) of track. Bridges, switches and signal boxes are now dilapidated or antiquated. After a few wonderful days on Föhr, we embarked on our return journey, well rested. Again, we were scheduled to take the "direct train" from Dagebüll to Berlin. There was a train waiting for us at the platform. However, deja vu: it was not the fast train we expected, but the slow train to Niebüll. Locals told us it had been like this for a long time, because of staff shortages. The direct train to the capital basically no longer exists. It's still on the timetable, but what does a timetable mean to Deutsche Bahn? Not long into our journey, another announcement was made: A train traveling ahead of us had hit a flock of sheep standing on the tracks. We were told that a railway emergency officer, a shepherd, a hunter and other officials were "on their way" to the scene of the accident. No further details were forthcoming. According to the train driver, the local officials who might have more information were not available, unfortunately. Our train conductor took the initiative and called the conductor of the train involved in the accident in front of us on his mobile. It turned out that the track had been cleared. However, we were still not permitted to continue our journey. Even our helpful conductor did not know why. "I'm going to do something I've never done before in my long career with the railway," he said and began to distribute gift vouchers. "Perhaps you will get a bouquet of flowers," he mused. "Deutsche Bahn says sorry" was printed on the vouchers. We were impressed. Then came the next shock: because the delay had been so long, the train had been "suspended" in Hamburg. A nice way of saying: the train ends here. We were among the lucky ones, finding a fast Intercity Express waiting to take us to the capital. Other passengers were not so lucky. "I'll be completely honest with you," our informative train conductor ventured. "We're not allowed to continue our journey because we've all far exceeded our working hours," he said. We wondered whether there was any replacement staff for emergencies like this. "There used to be, but not anymore," was the reply. More and more railway employees are resigning, unable to put up with the mounting anger and frustration of the passengers. Many say they no longer want to work for a company that is running itself into the ground. Finally, four hours later than planned, we reached Berlin. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video From August 1, worse is to come. Hamburg to Berlin, one of the main rail routes in Germany, is scheduled to close down completely. Extensive building work is set to begin on the line, which is 280 kilometers (174 miles) long and conveys up to 30,000 passengers every day. It's scheduled to take nine months. During that time, long-distance trains will have to take a 100-kilometer detour. But if travel is smoother afterwards, we will all feel it's been worth it. Speaking of August 1: The railway company aims to send us their apology gift by then. But it may be delayed a little. I think next time, we'll travel to Föhr by view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter, Berlin Briefing.
Russia Today
17 hours ago
- Russia Today
Three dead after train crash in Germany (VIDEO)
At least three people have been killed in a major train wreck in the German southwestern state of Baden-Wurttemberg, the tabloid Bild has reported, citing the police. It was carrying around 100 passengers when it came off the rails in a wooded area some 50 kilometers west of the city of Ulm on Sunday evening. 'Dozens' of people were injured in the crash, the regional interior minister, Thomas Strobl, told journalists. He added that everyone inside the train had been evacuated. Some people could still be trapped beneath the rubble and the derailed carriages, he said. Local media put the number of injured at 34, citing emergency services. Three are reportedly in critical condition. The authorities did not comment on the figures. Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolence to the loved ones of the victims and said he was 'dismayed' by the event. He did not provide any casualty figures. ❗️🚆🇩🇪 - Train Derailment in Baden-Württemberg: Fatalities and Injuries ReportedOn July 27, 2025, at approximately 6:10 PM, a regional express train operated by Deutsche Bahn derailed near Zwiefaltendorf in Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, while traveling from Sigmaringen to Ulm.… The derailed train was a regional express heading towards Ulm, according to the police. A large number of rescue teams, as well as at least six helicopters were deployed to the scene. Photos published by German media show several carriages lying in a ravine near the tracks, with at least two of them overturned. The cause of the incident is still unclear. Severe storms and heavy rains were reported in the area shortly beforehand, according to Bild.
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
3 killed as German train derails, likely due to landslide triggered by heavy rains
Berlin — Three people were killed and at least 41 others injured Sunday evening when a regional express train derailed in southern Germany. Authorities believe a landslide caused by torrential rain was likely the cause of the accident. The train derailed in a forested area on a route between Sigmaringen and Ulm in southern Germany's Baden-Württemberg state. Around 100 passengers were on board when the train hit mud and debris that had spilled onto the tracks following a landslide. Two carriages derailed and toppled down an embankment next to the tracks. A preliminary investigation suggested a hole near the line had filled with water during intense rainfall, leading a slope adjacent to the track to collapse. Weather experts said the region was inundated with up to 10 gallons of rainfall per square yard in the space of just a few hours on Sunday. The victims of the derailment were identified as the train's 32-year-old driver, a 36-year-old railway trainee and a 70-year-old male passenger. Emergency services transported at least 41 people to nearby hospitals, some of them with serious injuries, according to emergency officials. Authorities were examining data from the train's onboard data recorder to determine the exact sequence of events. Officials said there was no indication of foul play. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences to the victims' families and promised full support for rescue and recovery efforts. Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, also issued a statement expressing shock and pledged full cooperation with investigators.
Sky News
a day ago
- General
- Sky News
Train derailment that killed three in Germany likely caused by landslide, say police
Three people have died and more than 40 others have been injured after a train derailed in a forested area of southern Germany, police have said. Heavy rainfall led to a sewage shaft overflowing, which likely set off the landslide on the embankment where the incident happened, according to officers. There was no indication that external factors contributed to the derailment near the town of Riedlingen, about 100 miles west of Munich. Two train carriages came off the rails between Riedlingen and Munderkingen at around 6.10 pm local time (5.10pm UK time) on Sunday, with around 100 people aboard. Photos from the scene showed parts of the train on its side as rescuers climbed on top of the carriages. Passengers have been evacuated from the train. The train's 32-year-old driver, a 36-year-old apprentice, and a 70-year-old passenger were killed, police said. The Reuters news agency reported that the train was on a 55-mile route between Sigmaringen and Ulm in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. In a post on X, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he mourned the victims and gave his condolences. Deutsche Bahn, Germany's main national railway operator, also said in a statement that it was cooperating with investigators.
The Guardian
a day ago
- General
- The Guardian
At least three people killed after train derails in southern Germany
Three people were killed and several others injured when a regional passenger train derailed in a wooded area in southwestern Germany on Sunday, police said. About 100 passengers were onboard the train when the accident occurred at 6.10pm local time near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Württemberg state. Contacted by AFP, police initially said four people had been killed before correcting their statement to three victims. Authorities declined to elaborate on the number of injured or how seriously hurt they were. The German rail operator Deutsche Bahn confirmed several deaths and numerous injured. Two train carriages had derailed 'for reasons yet unknown', it added. Authorities were currently investigating the circumstances of the accident, the operator said, and traffic had been suspended over a 40km (25-mile) stretch of the route. German media reported that a landslide might have caused the accident as severe storms swept through the region, according to weather services. The passenger train was travelling from the German town of Sigmaringen to the city of Ulm when it derailed in a forested area. In a post on social media, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, expressed his condolences to the families of those killed. He added that he was in close contact with both the interior and transport ministers, and had asked them to 'provide the emergency services with all the support they need'. Footage from the scene of the accident showed yellow-and-grey-coloured train carriages lying on their sides, as firefighters and emergency services tried to get to the passengers. According to local TV station SWR, helicopters arrived shortly after the accident to transport the injured to hospitals in the area, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted. German transport is regularly criticised by passengers for its outdated infrastructure, with travellers facing frequent train delays and various technical problems. The government has pledged to invest several hundred billion euros over the next few years, in particular to modernise infrastructure. In June 2022, a train derailed near a Bavarian Alpine resort in southern Germany, killing four people and injuring dozens. Germany's deadliest rail accident happened in 1998 when a high-speed train operated by state-owned Deutsche Bahn derailed in Eschede in Lower Saxony, killing 101 people. This article was amended on 27 July 2025 to reflect the updated death toll reported by German police.
