Screaming passengers, death, and injury are the situation on the scene after a train derailed in a remote part of South West Germany.
In the Southwestern part of Germany’s scenic rail road region, a passenger train derailed on Sunday afternoon. According to local news reports, the accident occurred near Zell-Bechingen. Unconfirmed chatter among first responders indicates that several people lost their lives, and several are injured.
Bild newspaper reports that screams are coming from the accident scene as passengers desperately call for help.
A large contingent of first responders from the fire and police departments in this remote region is on the scene, while federal authorities responsible for the safety of the German railway system are still en route.
Idyllically situated on the wooded slopes of the Tautschbuch, the village was first mentioned in documents in 1277, making it the youngest district; for a long time, it belonged to the nearby Zwiefalten Monastery. Zell lies directly on the Danube; the small town was first mentioned in 790 and was part of the Zwiefalten Monastery for many years. A bridge connects Zell with Bechingen, which has formed a single community since 2004.
Currently, approximately 250 people reside in this remote region of South West Germany.
There is no report on what exactly happened, as rescue efforts are currently underway.
Rail traffic in Germany is considered very safe. The Federal Railway Authority is the German supervisory, licensing, and safety authority for railways and railway undertakings.
Over 2/3 of all railway undertakings in Germany are subject to supervision by the Federal Railway Authority. The federal states supervise some regional railways, although in many cases the latter exercise the option of transferring this supervision to the Federal Railway Authority.
The numerous functions of the Federal Railway Authority include plan approval for federal railway facilities, authorization of rolling stock and railway infrastructure, and the allocation of funds made available by the Federal Government for the rail transport sector. In addition, the Federal Railway Authority enforces passengers’ rights.
The Federal Railway Authority is an independent German higher federal authority and is part of the Federal Transport Administration. It is subject to supervisory and legal control by the Federal Ministry of Transport
