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Locomotive fire at Seesen train station: Fortunately, the locomotive driver remains uninjured!
Two train accidents in Germany: On August 10, 2025, a locomotive burned in Seesen, while a train driver died on September 12, 2023.
Locomotive fire at Seesen train station: Fortunately, the locomotive driver remains uninjured!
On Saturday afternoon, August 10, 2025, an incident occurred at the train station in Seesen, in the Goslar district, that once again put rail safety in the spotlight. As the Borken newspaper reported that a locomotive on a freight train caught fire. Fortunately, the train driver, a 56-year-old man, was uninjured.
The incident occurred when the locomotive stopped just beyond the station. The engineer attempted to restart the locomotive, which resulted in a flameout when the engine room door was opened. Equipped with a fire extinguisher, he fought the flames until the device was empty. After putting out the fire, he closed the door and called the fire department. They quickly determined that the fire had already been completely extinguished and gave the all-clear. However, the station remained closed for two hours until the train could be towed away. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
Another tragic incident
Such events repeatedly show how dangerous rail traffic can be. It was only on September 12, 2023 that a tragic accident occurred in Geseke, North Rhine-Westphalia, in which a 30-year-old train driver died when a freight train derailed. This freight train, loaded with cement, got out of control for reasons that were initially unclear and burst into flames while the train driver was between the wagons. Loud 20 minutes Videos from passers-by show how the train burst into flames about 200 meters from the accident site.
The investigation into the exact circumstances of the incident is ongoing. Possible causes could be technical defects or brake problems, as the train was apparently traveling faster than the permitted 30 kilometers per hour. The rescue work also turned out to be extremely challenging; A special company had to be called in to rescue the train driver because 20 tons of cement had to be pumped out to raise the wagon. The railway companies were also affected by the tragedy and expressed their sympathy for the deceased.
Security situation in rail transport
Such incidents fit into the context of increasing numbers of accidents in rail transport. The International Union of Railways (UIC) has highlighted in its latest annual report a significant increase in rail accidents in 2022, posing an immediate risk to passengers and staff. Again Locomotive Report analyzed, the safety index remains below the 2017 level, but shows some stability between 2020 and 2021, before the numbers increased again the following year.
In recent years, rail transport has undergone significant changes, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, which severely impacted train travel. While there are signs of recovery, the industry must continue to work to improve safety. The UIC is also investigating the connection between suicides in railway infrastructure and trespassing, which is a complex issue and shows the complexity of the challenges in the railway sector.
These two incidents are a strong call to action for the industry and its security systems. While technology and vehicle construction continue to develop, the greatest good - people's lives - always remains at stake. A good reason to stay vigilant and constantly work on improvements.