While the wreckage has been cleared, rail services along the affected route remain suspended and are expected to be disrupted for at least another week. The truck driver remains in critical condition, and several people were injured in the incident.
Freight Truck and Passenger Train Collide at Unprotected Crossing
The accident occurred Wednesday afternoon at an unprotected level crossing in Kühnham, west of Pocking, in the Passau district. A regional Rottalbahn train collided with a freight truck, dragging it across the tracks and causing the train to derail. Emergency crews responded quickly, and by early Thursday morning, both the train and the truck had been removed with the help of two heavy-duty cranes.
Rail Services Suspended for Safety Assessment
Following the removal of the damaged train, Deutsche Bahn began inspecting the tracks and the crossing for damage. Early assessments suggest that the route between Pocking and Pfarrkirchen will remain closed for at least seven days. Trains from Passau now terminate in Pocking, while services from Mühldorf currently end in Pfarrkirchen. Initial damage estimates exceed €2 million.
Truck Driver in Critical Condition, Nine Injured on Train
The 40-year-old truck driver was thrown from his vehicle during the crash and remains in a life-threatening condition. At the time of the accident, 15 people were onboard the train. The driver and a conductor sustained injuries that were originally classified as severe but have since been downgraded to moderate. Additionally, seven other passengers suffered minor injuries, according to the Lower Bavaria Police in a statement to the Passauer Neue Presse.
Cause of the Crash Still Under Investigation
The exact sequence of events leading to the crash is not yet known. The collision occurred shortly before 3 p.m. at a level crossing equipped only with warning lights, not physical barriers. The train struck the truck with considerable force, pushing it sideways across the tracks and leading to the train’s derailment. Only the truck driver and the 15 train passengers were involved. Police, fire, and emergency medical teams launched a major response effort at the scene.
Poorly Secured Crossings Pose Long-Standing Risk
The crossing where the accident occurred is one of many on the Mühldorf–Passau line that are only minimally secured. On this route, 105 level crossings exist between Passau and Eggenfelden alone. Of those, just a third are equipped with gates or automated signals; the rest rely solely on the legally required St. Andrew’s Cross signage.
Experts and local officials have repeatedly warned about the safety risks associated with such infrastructure. The Rottalbahn runs trains at least once an hour, making these crossings especially hazardous without adequate protection.
Sources: Lower Bavaria Police, dpa
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