A Swiss freight train partially derailed near the German town of Auggen on Thursday night.
According to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, the freight train, which was heading towards Italy, derailed when a concrete component of a bridge under construction fell. The train driver did not have time to brake and was killed. Three further people were injured.
“Our thoughts are with the fatally injured train driver and his family. We wish those who were hurt a swift recovery.”
The freight train was hauled by a BLS locomotive, but SBB Cargo International was responsible for the train until Basel. The train departed Freiburg im Breisgau at 7:19pm, destined for Novarra. Just 11 minutes after departure the accident happened.
The freight train was in fact hauling lorries so that ten lorry drivers were in the car behind the locomotive. Most sustained mild injuries.
The railway line between Freiburg and Basel is now closed. The closure is likely to last until Monday morning, Deutsche Bahn said. This will affect Deutsche Bahn’s ICE services between Berlin-Basel, Kiel/Hamburg-Basel and Dortmund-Basel.
Also read:
