Meerbusch train crash

At about 19:30 CET (18:30 UTC), a passenger train operated by National Express Germany ran into the rear of a freight train operated by DB Cargo near Meerbusch-Osterath station, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The driver of the passenger train was able to give a warning before the collision occurred.[1] Fifty people were injured, nine seriously and three with moderate injuries.[2][3] The train was carrying 155 passengers.[4] The passenger train was travelling from Krefeld to Neuss. The freight train was travelling from Dillingen, Saarland to Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands.[1] The rear three wagons of the freight train were derailed.[2] The leading carriage of the Bombardier Talent 2 electric multiple unit which formed the passenger train was severely damaged.[1] The rescue of passengers was hampered by fallen power cables,[5] which were made safe by Deutsche Bahn. More than 200 firefighters assisted in the rescue efforts. The line between Düsseldorf and Krefeld was closed.[3]

Cleanup of the accident aftermath

The Eisenbahn-Unfalluntersuchungsstelle des Bundes (EUB) opened an investigation into the accident.[6] It was reported that the passenger train may have incorrectly been given permission to pass a signal indicating “stop”.[2] Having been given permission, the driver should have proceeded at a speed not exceeding 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph) and have been able to stop in the distance he could see ahead, but the rear signs of freight trains are normally not illuminated and poorly visible.[7]