ICE train hits track workers in Essen, killing 1
An ICE train struck two track workers trimming trees in Essen-Katernberg on Sunday night, killing 1 and seriously injuring the other, police said.
Update ·
The affected line reopens early Monday after an overnight closure, though long-distance trains are still being diverted, Deutsche Bahn says.
Also in:Deutsch
An ICE high-speed train struck two track workers trimming trees and bushes beside the line in Essen-Katernberg, Germany, late on Sunday, killing 1 of them and seriously injuring the other, police said. Firefighters were called to the scene on Grundstraße at 23:11, after a six-person Deutsche Bahn crew was working on the open track when the pair were hit.
Rescuers could only confirm one worker's death at the scene. The other was lifted from the track area onto the street using a turntable ladder and taken to hospital, police said. Professional and volunteer firefighters, ambulance crews, federal police, a Deutsche Bahn incident manager and three trauma counsellors were all involved in the roughly two-hour operation.
Essen police have taken over the investigation from federal officers and said the line is normally fitted with acoustic and visual warning systems; they gave no further detail on why the two workers were not warned in time.
The affected stretch between Gelsenkirchen's main station and Essen-Altenessen reopened early on Monday after being closed for several hours, Deutsche Bahn said. Long-distance trains between Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg are still being diverted, adding about 20 minutes to journey times, and regional travellers were advised to check for alternative routes.
Follow this story
An email when there is a real update (a new toll, a cause, an arrest). Nothing else; stop with one click.
Free: one story at a time. Members follow as many stories as they like.
What we know
- 2+ outlets · Stern, Tagesspiegel +3 An ICE train struck two track workers in Essen-Katernberg late on Sunday while they trimmed trees beside the line; 1 died and the other was seriously injured.
- 1 outlet · Tagesspiegel The pair were part of a six-person Deutsche Bahn crew; rescuers used a turntable ladder to free the injured worker.
- 1 outlet · Tagesspiegel Essen police have taken over the investigation and say warning systems are normally in place on the line.
- 1 outlet · Tagesspiegel The line reopened early Monday after an overnight closure; long-distance trains between Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg are still being diverted, adding about 20 minutes.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed Why the line's warning systems did not prevent the collision.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Figure history
PremiumSee how the 2 casualty figures in this story changed, when, and who gave each number.
Why it matters for Europe
The accident killed a rail worker on an active line in the Ruhr region and disrupted one of Germany's busier long-distance corridors for hours, despite warning systems that are normally meant to alert track crews to approaching trains.
Updates
·
The affected line reopens early Monday after an overnight closure, though long-distance trains are still being diverted, Deutsche Bahn says.
First published.
Sources
Reported by 6 reports from 6 independent outlets in 3 countries.
- Bundespolizei Presse: FW-E: Schwerer Bahnunfall in Essen Katernberg - Eine Person verstorben, eine weitere schwer verletzt
- Stern: Schwerer Bahnunfall: Von ICE erfasst: Gleisarbeiter stirbt in Essen
- Bundespolizei Presse: FW-W: Kellerfeuer in Nächstebreck - zwei Personen vom Rettungsdienst untersucht
- Tagesspiegel: Schwerer Bahnunfall: Von ICE erfasst: Gleisarbeiter stirbt in Essen
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Unfall in Essen: ICE erfasst Gruppe von Gleisarbeitern – ein Mann stirbt
Source balance
PremiumSee how the 6 outlets behind this story spread from left to right, and which are official or OSINT sources.
Free during the launch: create an account →Log inHow we rate sources
Intelligence file
PremiumSee how we verified this story
Confidence and impact scores, 3 more sources, the full situation report and the event timeline.
Launch offer: free for members until 31 October 2026
Questions and answers
- How many workers were hit?
- Two; 1 died and the other was seriously injured, police said.
- Is rail traffic still affected?
- Yes, long-distance trains between Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg are being diverted, adding about 20 minutes to journeys, though the line itself reopened early Monday.
- What caused the accident?
- Investigators have not said why warning systems on the line did not prevent the collision while the crew was trimming trees beside the track.
This article was written with AI assistance from 8 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.