After the horrific collision between a freight train and a school bus in Tyrol on Thursday morning, the emergency services are now providing insight into their work at the accident site. It was a difficult operation, the fire brigade in the area was challenged. Something is about to change at the level crossings in Pflach.
Andrew’s Cross, stop sign: The level crossings on the Ausserfernbahn in Pflach have no other safety features. As reported, the collision took place on Thursday morning at the intersection of L 288, Kniepassstrae. The consequences: the bus driver died, two children (11 and 13 years old) were seriously injured. The cause of the accident is still unclear.
Large-scale deployment for the fire service
“When we received the alert, we didn’t know what to expect,” said Kathrin Gruber of the Pflach Fire Brigade, who led the large-scale operation of the Pflach, Reutte and Breitenwang Fire Brigades. “From that time on it could only be a freight train,” Gruber says. “So we assumed that at least on the train, only a few people would be affected.”
A horrific scene appeared at the scene of the accident. The train had come to a stop far ahead, the bus torn open in the middle. “An overhead line was damaged, we first had to wait for the ÖBB to switch off the power to be able to work safely,” says the manager.
While the Reutte fire brigade rescued the injured, the Florianis from Pflach provided fire protection and Breitenwang took over the instruction of the emergency helicopters.
Ten unsecured transitions
There are currently ten insufficiently secured level crossings in Pflach. They have even laid planks so that tractors can cross the track. “Five of them will be closed, the ÖBB is next,” says Mayor Karl Köck.
Projects on hold
For the others, there are already projects for barrier systems. However, the ÖBB had to postpone the backups planned for this year at two crossings until the spring of 2023 due to a lack of capacity.
It is anyone’s guess when it’s time to cross over from death. “We need land from third parties, negotiations with the landowners are not easy,” says ÖBB spokesman Christoph Gasser-Mair. Mayor Köck now wants to request a statement from ÖBB.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
