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| Germany train crash: Controller error theory dismissed | Germany train crash: Controller error theory dismissed |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| German police have rejected as speculation a report that a line controller turned off an automatic safety system shortly before two passenger trains collided in Bavaria. | German police have rejected as speculation a report that a line controller turned off an automatic safety system shortly before two passenger trains collided in Bavaria. |
| Ten people were killed and scores more were injured, 18 seriously. | |
| An unconfirmed report suggested that an automatic braking system had been switched off to allow one of the trains to make up time. | An unconfirmed report suggested that an automatic braking system had been switched off to allow one of the trains to make up time. |
| But a police spokesman rejected the theory as "pure speculation". | But a police spokesman rejected the theory as "pure speculation". |
| "Discard that, we reject that," a spokesman told local broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. | "Discard that, we reject that," a spokesman told local broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. |
| The braking system, which is supposed to kick in when a train runs through a red light, was installed after a 2011 disaster at Magdeburg in which 10 people died. | The braking system, which is supposed to kick in when a train runs through a red light, was installed after a 2011 disaster at Magdeburg in which 10 people died. |
| Reports in German media suggested that in exceptional circumstances the automated system could be overridden by rail staff. | Reports in German media suggested that in exceptional circumstances the automated system could be overridden by rail staff. |
| Human error is still being investigated as a possible cause of the disaster, which happened on a single-track commuter line on Monday morning near Bad Aibling, a spa town about 60km (37 miles) south-east of Munich. | Human error is still being investigated as a possible cause of the disaster, which happened on a single-track commuter line on Monday morning near Bad Aibling, a spa town about 60km (37 miles) south-east of Munich. |
| The transport minister said the trains had crashed into each other while both were travelling at about 100km/h (62mph). | |
| Emergency teams, some winched in by helicopter, worked for hours to free casualties from the wreckage. | Emergency teams, some winched in by helicopter, worked for hours to free casualties from the wreckage. |
| What we know | What we know |
| Unanswered questions | Unanswered questions |
| In focus: Bavaria's railways | In focus: Bavaria's railways |
| Both train drivers and two train guards were among those killed. | Both train drivers and two train guards were among those killed. |
| Police said that the search of the wreckage had been completed and no more victims had been found or were missing. They said reports of an 11th victim were false. | |
| None of those being treated in hospital was in a life-threatening condition, they added. | |
| Analysis by Richard Westcott, Transport correspondent | Analysis by Richard Westcott, Transport correspondent |
| It seems likely that one of the trains ran a red light, but it's hard to know why. It could be human error, technical problems or a combination of the two. | It seems likely that one of the trains ran a red light, but it's hard to know why. It could be human error, technical problems or a combination of the two. |
| The line is fitted with a modern safety system that slows the train down if it is going too fast and then stops it automatically if it passes a red signal. | The line is fitted with a modern safety system that slows the train down if it is going too fast and then stops it automatically if it passes a red signal. |
| Drivers get warnings in the cab if there is a problem. The speed of each train suggests neither had any warning. | Drivers get warnings in the cab if there is a problem. The speed of each train suggests neither had any warning. |
| And it is highly likely they'd have known the route, too. | And it is highly likely they'd have known the route, too. |
| Only by analysing the data recorders or "black boxes" will investigators know for sure what happened. | Only by analysing the data recorders or "black boxes" will investigators know for sure what happened. |
| It's incredible that so few people lost their lives and that's almost certainly because of the huge improvements in train design over the years. They are much safer than they used to be. | It's incredible that so few people lost their lives and that's almost certainly because of the huge improvements in train design over the years. They are much safer than they used to be. |
| Train crash rescue: As it happened | Train crash rescue: As it happened |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "dismayed" by the crash. | Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "dismayed" by the crash. |
| Two of the data recorders on board the trains have been recovered but investigators are keen to find the third. The search has been complicated by the difficult terrain where the crash happened. | |
| A 160-tonne crane arrived at the scene of the disaster on Wednesday, as salvage workers prepared to remove the two mangled trains from the track. The work was expected to last at least two days. | |
| Bavarian State Premier Horst Seehofer visited Bad Aibling with his colleagues and said it was a tragedy. "The whole of Bavaria has been shaken," he said. | |
| The trains collided in a hilly and densely wooded region near the Mangfall river. | |
| Investigators will have to find out why a train that left Holzkirchen travelling east to Rosenheim was on the single track at 06:48, four minutes after it was due to reach its next stop at Kolbermoor, where it would have met the westbound train on a double track. | |
| The westbound train from Rosenheim to Holzkirchen would have left Kolbermoor at 06:45 and would have been expected to be on the single track at the time of the accident. | |
| As the PZB automated braking system had been checked a week ago, there has been heightened speculation that it may have been temporarily disabled, and it is the controller's responsibility to ensure trains are running safely. | |
| Germany's rail safety mechanism | |
| In case signals fail, German railways are fitted with a final safety guard to prevent crashes. | |
| Cab signalling known as PZB (Punktfoermige Zugbeeinflussung - or "intermittent train control") will set off an alarm in the driver's compartment when the train approaches a red light. If the driver does not respond by pressing a button, the train will brake automatically. | |
| Who operates the signals? | |
| Other fatal German train crashes | Other fatal German train crashes |