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Dramatic rail accident in Cologne: young people's lives are in danger!
A dangerous situation at Cologne Central Station: Young people push someone onto the tracks, Federal Police warn of risks to railway systems.
Dramatic rail accident in Cologne: young people's lives are in danger!
Last weekend, a worrying incident occurred at Cologne Central Station, which once again brought the dangers of railway systems into focus. A group of young people were pushing each other on the platform when one person fell onto the track. Fortunately, as rheinische-anzeigenblaetter.de reports, the friends reacted quickly and were able to rescue the fallen person from the track bed in time, shortly before the S-Bahn arrived. The driver of the train was shocked and had to be relieved, while train services were delayed due to the incident.
A very alarming detail is that those involved simply ran away after the incident without providing any help. This is not the first incident of this kind, as the Federal Police points out. Frequent dangerous situations on railway systems often end with serious consequences. The police have been warning for a long time: tracks are not a playground and staying near them is life-threatening and absolutely forbidden. It highlights how important it is to keep your distance from the edge of the platform, as trains unexpectedly and quietly approach the platforms.
Rising accident numbers are worrying
The risks associated with railway systems are not only evident in Cologne. In general, accidents on German railway lines and train stations are increasing: According to bahnblogstelle.com, there were a total of 1,141 accidents and events with personal injury in 2022, compared to 1,083 in 2021. What is particularly alarming is that in 2022, 14 children under 14 died and 13 were injured.
The causes are varied: be it spraying graffiti, bypassing railway barriers or climbing onto freight trains – the dangers are omnipresent. Despite the repeated warnings, Deutsche Bahn also includes train accidents and suicides in these statistics. The risks are great and children and young people are particularly at risk, often due to ignorance or arrogance.
Prevention measures and education
In this context, the educational work of Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Police is extremely important. There are concrete measures to prevent accidents, as deutschebahn.com reports. Six new prevention teams are being deployed to educate children and young people on site about the dangers of railway systems. Stands at the train station, teaching units and age-appropriate materials are intended to help raise awareness of the possible dangers.
Particularly eye-catching banners and posters in the station, as well as important information on social media and videos that address the dangers, should help to avoid dangerous situations. It is known that trains at speeds of over 100 km/h require a braking distance of 800 to 1,000 meters, which further illustrates the danger. Electrical overhead lines with a voltage of 15,000 volts also pose a life-threatening danger.
Compliance with strict rules is therefore essential. Unauthorized entry into railway facilities can be punished with fines of up to 5,000 euros and pioneering achievements such as preventing access to the track area are also legally relevant. Responsible behavior and adequate education are the key to preventing tragic accidents.