Police Find 19-Year-Old After Trainsurfer Incident in Koralm Tunnel

Background: What Happened at Kühnsdorf Station

Since police initially could not rule out that another person might still be in the tunnel, the railway line was closed in both directions at 7:25 p.m. With the help of ÖBB video surveillance and security personnel, the tunnel was systematically searched. "Da nicht ausgeschlossen werden konnte, dass sich noch eine weitere Person im Tunnel befand, wurde die Bahnstrecke um 19.25 Uhr in beide Richtungen gesperrt und der Tunnel mittels der Videoüberwachung und Sicherheitspersonal abgesucht", so die Polizei. It was not until around 10:00 p.m. that the closure could be lifted.

The train was able to reach the next station in St. Paul im Lavanttal without further incident after a police patrol had arrived there. As the authorities further reported, however, the train had already passed the station when the patrol arrived on site. It was thus clear that the young people had been on the outside of the train in an uncontrolled manner during the journey, without staff being able to intervene.

Hours-Long Closure of the Koralm Tunnel

On Tuesday, three days after the incident, police finally received an anonymous tip that put investigators on the trail of a 19-year-old from Vienna. Through the evaluation of high-resolution ÖBB video surveillance and the anonymous tip, the suspect could be identified and interrogated. According to police, he is a 19-year-old man from Vienna who is considered one of the three suspects.

The 19-year-old is alleged to have endangered the physical safety of several persons through his behavior. Police are treating the incident as dangerous bodily harm and as interference with rail traffic. He is now charged with endangering the physical safety of several persons. The investigation against him is in full swing.

Anonymous Tip Leads to the 19-Year-Old from Vienna

In addition to criminal charges, the 19-year-old also faces a financial consequence: police announced that they would charge him for the costs of the entire police operation. In addition, he will also be billed for the costs incurred by the hours-long closure of the Koralm Tunnel. There is talk of a "saftigen Rechnung," as police announced on Wednesday.

The closure of the railway line had significant impacts on rail traffic on the Koralmbahn, an important east-west connection between Carinthia and Styria. Travelers had to expect delays and diversions during the closure, since the Koralm Tunnel was impassable in both directions. It was not until nearly two and a half hours later that regular rail traffic could be resumed.

Legal Consequences and Cost Claim

Police are now searching for the two further suspects who are also alleged to have been involved in the incident. „Die Ermittlungen hinsichtlich der beiden weiteren Tatverdächtigen werden mit Nachdruck fortgeführt", so die Exekutive weiter. The two other "Trainsurfer" are still being sought. Information from the public continues to be accepted by the Carinthia State Police Directorate.

The incident has sparked a debate in Carinthia about the so-called "Trainsurfer" scene. Repeatedly on the Koralmbahn, but also on other routes in Austria, there are incidents in which young people hang onto moving trains or climb onto carriage roofs. Police have pointed out for years that these actions are life-threatening and can cause serious injury or even death.

The ÖBB federal railways emphasize that safety precautions on the Koralmbahn are high, but that the behavior of "Trainsurfer" circumvents the existing safety systems. Video surveillance in the Koralm Tunnel proved to be a crucial investigative tool in this case, according to police sources. Without the high-resolution footage, identifying the suspect would have been considerably more difficult.

Investigations Against the Further Suspects

Legally, the incident is classified as dangerous bodily harm as well as interference with rail traffic. Should the suspicion against the 19-year-old be confirmed, he faces not only a fine or prison sentence but also civil claims from the ÖBB and the affected rail passengers. Police did not rule out that further civil claims would be asserted.

The Koralmbahn, on whose route the incident occurred, is one of the most modern rail connections in Austria and links the cities of Graz and Klagenfurt. It runs in part through the Koralm Tunnel, one of the longest railway tunnels in the country. Incidents on this route are taken particularly seriously by the authorities, since the route also serves international travel traffic.

The Klagenfurt public prosecutor's office is now reviewing which specific charges will be brought against the 19-year-old. In addition to the criminal aspect, the amount of the cost claim is also the subject of the investigation, since this depends on the duration of the operation and the extent of the closure. Police expect that the investigations could continue for several more weeks.

Reactions and Political Dimension

The case also has a political dimension: Carinthian security authorities had pointed out repeatedly in recent months to the increase in "Trainsurfer" incidents. The current case could now lead to a tightening of measures against such actions, for example through increased video surveillance or harsher penalties.

Overall, the incident demonstrates the risks posed by so-called "Trainsurfen." Police appeal to young people not to hold onto moving trains or climb onto carriage roofs, since this endangers not only their own lives but also those of other travelers. Anyone with information on the two suspects still being sought is asked to contact the Carinthia State Police Directorate.