ICE maintains its presence in Cologne
In an unexpected incident, an ICE train collided with the overhead power line catenary wire on a route between Cologne Messe/Deutz and Cologne-Mühlheim on Thursday evening. The collision occurred on an open stretch of track, causing some disruption to rail traffic.
According to reports, the overhead line on the route was under repair during the night, but there are no specific details about the incident available in the current search results. The cause of the collision is yet to be definitively determined, but it is known that such incidents can be caused by mechanical failure or damage to the train's pantograph, external conditions such as ice buildup on wires, or track infrastructure issues or obstacles affecting the pantograph or wires.
The emergency power supply was activated following the damaged overhead line, and one passenger reportedly complained of circulatory problems. However, the police confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. The train, which had 600 passengers on board at the time, was unable to continue its journey and was towed to a workshop in Cologne-Nippes.
After evacuation, the passengers were taken to the station by bus. The spokesperson for the railway could not say how long the emergency power would last, and the duration of the closure of the affected section was still open at the early morning. The air conditioning systems in the trains have an emergency power supply and can function even without power from the overhead line.
The incident was reported by the "Express" newspaper, but no further information was provided about the cause of the circulatory problem of the reported passenger or the exact location of the incident beyond being on the affected route.
Despite the disruption, the impact on rail traffic was expected to be minimal, as all trains could be rerouted. The railway spokesperson expressed their gratitude for the quick response of the emergency services and assured passengers that they were prioritising their safety and comfort during the resolution process.
- The damaged pantograph of the ICE train may have been due to an external condition such as ice buildup on wires, a common cause of collisions in transportations, as suggested by the variety of possible causes in the transportation industry.
- The finance department of the railway company might need to consider the costs of transportation delays caused by the collision, including the towing of the train, passenger evacuation, and potential compensation for inconvenience, in addition to the repair costs of the damaged infrastructure.
