The cause of the regional train catastrophe in Burgrein on June 3, 2022, was an “infrastructure failure”, according to an interim report published on June 1 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of Railway Accidents. The report was cited by the Railway Supply portal, as reported by Railway Gazette.

train catastrophe

The train, consisting of five double-decker cars hauled by a Class 111 electric locomotive, was traveling from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Munich. It derailed at 12:16, resulting in the death of five people, serious injuries to 16 individuals, and minor injuries to 62.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the pre-stressed concrete sleepers laid at the site of the track incident showed signs of damage, indicating a loss of tension within the sleepers. This led to the collapse of the structure and the detachment of the rail support,” the interim report stated.

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On the eve of the incident, Deutsche Bahn (DB) issued a statement emphasizing that further investigations into the accident were ongoing, and the definitive cause had not yet been determined.

In addition to the investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of Railway Accidents and the prosecutor’s office, DB commissioned an independent internal investigation by a law firm.

DB reported that as part of the preventive sleeper replacement program following the accident, 480,000 sleepers were replaced this year. This can be compared to approximately 80,000 sleepers in a typical year. The replacement work was carried out after urgent inspections of network sections where identical sleepers had been installed.

The program involved the engagement of 400 positions across the network, resulting in inevitable delays for passengers and freight customers. The sleeper replacement work will continue “at least until next year,” warned DB.

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