RIEDLINGEN, GERMANY – A regional passenger train in southwestern Germany derailed on Sunday evening, claiming the lives of three people and injuring at least 41 others, in a horrific incident that authorities are attributing to a landslide caused by an overflowing sewage shaft. The tragedy, which unfolded amid heavy rainfall, highlights a grim vulnerability in infrastructure amidst increasingly extreme weather patterns.
The regional train, operated by Deutsche Bahn and carrying approximately 100 passengers, was en route between Sigmaringen and Ulm when at least two carriages veered off the tracks in a forested area near Riedlingen, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, around 6:10 PM local time.
Ulm police and Ravensburg prosecutors released a joint statement on Monday confirming initial findings: intense downpours in the area caused a sewage shaft to overflow. The sheer volume of water, unable to be contained, then triggered a landslide on an embankment running directly adjacent to the railway tracks. The train subsequently collided with the debris, causing the catastrophic derailment.
The victims have been identified as the 32-year-old train driver, a 36-year-old apprentice rail employee, and a 70-year-old passenger. Of the 41 injured, several are reported to be in serious condition, and some have already undergone surgery. Rescue workers faced challenging conditions, with photos from the scene showing overturned carriages amidst fallen trees, requiring extensive efforts to access and evacuate trapped passengers. Helicopters were dispatched to airlift the most severely injured to nearby hospitals.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his profound condolences, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that he “mourn[s] the victims” and offered his “deepest sympathy” to their families. He has requested that the interior and transport ministers provide all necessary support to the emergency services. Deutsche Bahn CEO Richard Lutz also offered his sympathies, pledging full cooperation with the investigation.
The incident has immediately raised concerns about Germany’s railway infrastructure, which has faced growing criticism in recent years for underinvestment and a rising number of delays and technical problems. While the direct cause was a localized natural event triggered by the sewage overflow, the broader context of increasingly frequent and intense rainfall, linked to climate change, underscores the need for robust and resilient infrastructure.
The affected stretch of track remains closed, with clean-up operations expected to begin on Monday. Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and there is currently no evidence of foul play or external interference.
For the community of Riedlingen and across Germany, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how seemingly innocuous infrastructure failures, exacerbated by unpredictable weather, can have devastating human consequences. The unexpected role of an overflowing sewage system in leading to a fatal train derailment has shocked many, prompting questions about urban planning, drainage systems, and railway safety in a changing climate.