ICE drama in Cologne: 230 passengers evacuated after AST collision!

ICE drama in Cologne: 230 passengers evacuated after AST collision!

On Monday, June 9, 2025, around 230 passengers of the ICE 527, who was traveling from Dortmund to Munich, experienced an unexpected stopover. Shortly before the Cologne Messe/Deutz stop, the train grazed a large branch that hung on the tracks. The impact caused damage to the grinding bar, which is responsible for the power supply, so that the train could no longer continue to drive independently. The route was then temporarily closed, which significantly impaired not only the travelers, but also all rail traffic in North Rhine-Westphalia. As WDR reports, the broken train was finally towed at 3:30 p.m. and the route could be released again.

The evacuation of the passengers was a challenge. From 8:30 a.m. the train on the railway bridge had come to a standstill, and it took until 12 noon until the first buses were on site for the transport of travelers. The first articulated bus arrived at 10 a.m., while the special evacuation train was only available at 12 noon. The actual evacuation began with a significant delay and only ended at 1:26 p.m., as Derwesten supplemented. The long waiting time was justified with the safety of the passengers, because getting out of the open doors could have been dangerous.

Security in focus

In this Situation, the importance of security in public space also came to the fore. Deutsche Bahn continuously is working on new security concepts for train stations and trains. For example, innovative measures are being tested at the Berlin Südkreuz safety station in cooperation with the Federal Police in order to increase the feeling of security of the passengers. Part of these initiatives includes the use of bodycams for train attendants to reduce critical situations and to promote acceptance in public spaces, as described on the website of the Deutsche Bahn is.

This unpleasant event shows again how important preventive security measures and quick action are in rail traffic. The events related to the evacuation of the ICE 527 are an urgent memory of the fact that in emergencies, quick and safe action is essential to ensure the safety of all travelers.