Cyclist dies after collision with regional train at railway crossing in Willstätt-Legelshurst

Course of the accident

The 62 passengers of the regional train were uninjured, according to police. However, due to the extreme heat on the summer evening, they had to leave the stationary train quickly. The fire department brought the travelers to an adjacent sports hall, where they were looked after and provided with drinks.

Two people from the train complained of heat-related circulatory problems after the evacuation and had to be taken to nearby hospitals. There was no immediate danger to their lives, according to initial findings.

The accident occurred on Saturday evening around 9 p.m. at a railway crossing with a half-barrier in Willstätt-Legelshurst, a municipality in the Ortenau district not far from the French border. The line between Offenburg and Strasbourg is part of the so-called European railway and is an important cross-border connection.

Impact on rail traffic

Due to the recovery operations and the accident investigation, Deutsche Bahn completely closed the line for more than three hours. Several trains on the connection between Offenburg and the Alsatian city of Strasbourg had to be canceled, and a rail replacement service was set up.

Police have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the accident. There were initially no indications of external fault or a technical defect in the barrier system. Experts from the Federal Railway Accident Investigation Authority were requested, according to security sources, to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Investigations and reactions

The incident casts a spotlight on the dangers at railway crossings, which repeatedly lead to fatal accidents despite technical safeguards such as half-barriers. The railway and police have for years renewed appeals to road users to never ride around closed barriers.

On social media, residents of Willstätt-Legelshurst expressed their dismay over the man's death. According to local politicians, the railway crossing is considered a sensitive point where dangerous situations have repeatedly occurred in the past. Demands for a full barrier or underpass solution are reportedly being voiced.

Deutsche Bahn announced that the affected section of the line would be fully back in operation during the course of Sunday. Passengers were advised to check the current connections between Offenburg and Strasbourg before traveling.