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Fatal accident at a railway crossing: train traffic between Bremen and Bremerhaven paralyzed!
On August 26, 2025, there was a fatal accident at a level crossing in Burglesum, which closed the railway line to Bremerhaven.
Fatal accident at a railway crossing: train traffic between Bremen and Bremerhaven paralyzed!
A tragic accident claimed the life of a 19-year-old driver in Burglesum this morning and paralyzed the railway line between Bremen and Bremerhaven. How north24 According to reports, the operation took place at a restricted railway crossing, which required a large number of fire brigade, police and rescue workers. Fortunately, the train passengers remained uninjured; they were evacuated from the scene and brought to safety.
As a result of the incident, no train service could be maintained between Bremen and Bremerhaven and a replacement rail service was set up between Bremen main station and Burg. Several witnesses to the accident were in shock and received care from pastors who were deployed to support those affected.
Causes of accidents at railway crossings
Such tragic accidents are not uncommon at railway crossings. According to a recent study by the UDV Human error and inadequate security measures are often the main causes. 84% of accidents at unguarded crossings with safety flashing lights result from running a red light. In particular, the possibility of bypassing half-barriers often leads to disasters.
Another survey shows that around 98% of fatal accidents occur at railway crossings, highlighting the need to improve safety at these critical points. Stefan Pöting, Head of Railway Technology at TÜV NORD, emphasizes that the long braking distances of trains, even at moderate speeds, mean that drivers' reaction time is often not enough to avoid accidents. At 160 km/h, a train needs up to 700 meters to come to a standstill.
- Jährlich sterben rund 50 Verkehrsteilnehmer an Bahnübergängen.
- Etwa 250 Personen erleiden schwere und knapp 1.000 leichte Verletzungen.
- Vollschranken gelten als die sicherste Form der Sicherung.
- Höhere Geschwindigkeiten erhöhen das Unfallrisiko signifikant.
Particularly at unsecured crossings with St. Andrew's Cross, it often happened that road users did not notice the train approaching in time. This illustrates how important it is to provide comprehensive information about the risks and instructions for action at level crossings.
Conclusion and outlook
Today's events in Burglesum are a heartbreaking example of the dangers lurking at level crossings. Proper awareness raising among drivers and the development of safe infrastructure are necessary to avoid similar tragedies in the future. Pöting recommends arriving at your destination late rather than taking unnecessary risks, which should also give all road users in Bremen and beyond something to think about.