Swiss train crash.

[swisstrains]

I forgot to post this news item earlier. The collision took place on 28th April 2006 at a place called Thun near to the Swiss capital of Bern. A German (DBAG) ICE train travelling from the Swiss lakeside resort of Interlaken to Berlin collided with Two BLS (Bern-Loetschberg-Simplon railway) Re465 locos. It appears that the two BLS locos should have been in a siding but somehow managed to foul the main line on which the ICE was travelling.
There are photos of the accident here (scroll down the page)
There were no serious injuries and the eight or so people who were admitted to hospital were all discharged the following day.
The damaged Re465 was taken to the nearby BLS workshops at Spiez on a wheel skate but the damaged ICE power car had to be returned to Germany by road. Photos here (half way down page)
This event shows that even the Swiss aren't perfect
John.

[Trev]

Originally Posted by swisstrains

This event shows that even the Swiss aren't perfect
John.

But I'd still rather have a Swiss cuckoo clock than one built by GM.

[swisstrains]

Originally Posted by Trev

But I'd still rather have a Swiss cuckoo clock than one built by GM.

I'd rather have a Chinese cuckoo clock than one built by GM
John.

[swisstrains]

I have just read in the Swiss News that another collision has taken place in Thun during the night (17th May) and three railway workers have sadly lost their lives. There is a lot of modernisation work taking place in the area and it appears that two works trains have collided. Although in the same area I don't think that this latest accident is linked to the previous one.
There are photos here. Click on "Bildstrecke" for a slide show
John

[swisstrains]

It appears that one of the trains in last nights collision was a runaway that had travelled out of control for 30 kilometres Although the loss of life is tragic it could have been much worse in the daytime if one of the many passenger trains on the line had been involved.

The story in English is here

John.