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| Germany train crash: Human error to blame, says prosecutor | Germany train crash: Human error to blame, says prosecutor |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Human error by a train controller was to blame for a crash in Bavaria, Germany, last week that killed 11 people, prosecutors said. | Human error by a train controller was to blame for a crash in Bavaria, Germany, last week that killed 11 people, prosecutors said. |
| Dozens more were injured after two commuter trains collided on a single-track stretch of railway. | Dozens more were injured after two commuter trains collided on a single-track stretch of railway. |
| An area controller opened the track to the two trains and tried to warn the drivers, according to the prosecutors. | An area controller opened the track to the two trains and tried to warn the drivers, according to the prosecutors. |
| The man, a 39-year-old, is likely to be charged with involuntary manslaughter and could face five years in jail. | The man, a 39-year-old, is likely to be charged with involuntary manslaughter and could face five years in jail. |
| "If he had complied with the rules... there would have been no collision," said Chief Prosecutor Wolfgang Giese. | "If he had complied with the rules... there would have been no collision," said Chief Prosecutor Wolfgang Giese. |
| The trains crashed head-on while both were travelling at about 100km/h (60mph) east of Bad Aibling, a spa town about 60km south-east of Munich. | The trains crashed head-on while both were travelling at about 100km/h (60mph) east of Bad Aibling, a spa town about 60km south-east of Munich. |
| Investigations focused on why the trains were on the tracks at the same time despite safety mechanisms. | Investigations focused on why the trains were on the tracks at the same time despite safety mechanisms. |
| The crash site is on a bend, meaning the drivers had no visual contact so collided largely without braking, officials said. | The crash site is on a bend, meaning the drivers had no visual contact so collided largely without braking, officials said. |
| Prosecutors said the controller's actions had "catastrophic" consequences but they do not believe he acted deliberately. | Prosecutors said the controller's actions had "catastrophic" consequences but they do not believe he acted deliberately. |
| The stretch of line had an automatic signalling system designed to halt any train that passed a stop signal. | The stretch of line had an automatic signalling system designed to halt any train that passed a stop signal. |
| But reports in German media suggested that the system had been switched off to let the eastbound train, which was running late, go past. | But reports in German media suggested that the system had been switched off to let the eastbound train, which was running late, go past. |
| The investigation ruled out technical faults with the trains or signalling system as being behind the crash. | The investigation ruled out technical faults with the trains or signalling system as being behind the crash. |
| All those killed in the crash were men aged between 24 and 59. | All those killed in the crash were men aged between 24 and 59. |
| Train crash: Evidence of human error | |
| Germany's rail safety mechanism | Germany's rail safety mechanism |
| In case signals fail, German railways are fitted with a final safety guard to prevent crashes. | 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. | 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. | If the driver does not respond by pressing a button, the train will brake automatically. |