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Dangerous train station: Owner fights for safety in Wilthen!
The Wilthen train station in Bautzen has been criticized because of the risk of collapse. Owner receives extension of time for security.
Dangerous train station: Owner fights for safety in Wilthen!
The situation remains tense at the Wilthen train station in the Bautzen district. The platform has been at risk for some time from falling parts of the roof, which is a serious problem for both the owner and the authorities. Sebastian Engels, the owner of the property, has agreed an extension of the deadline with the district's building inspectorate. He has until next week to take measures to ensure safety after the authority identified an acute threat to public safety. Engels runs a real estate company in Hennef, North Rhine-Westphalia, and plans to cover the building with a sturdy tarpaulin to prevent moisture from entering and to prevent roof panels from falling. This procedure has already been approved, but the building inspectorate requires regular follow-up measures.
Although there is a lot of train traffic and the parking lot next to the station is busy every day, the area around the station remains quiet. The planned sale of the station building failed, but there are new interested parties who have their eye on the property.
Challenges for the owner
However, the situation has changed dramatically since Sebastian Engels bought it a year and a half ago for 29,000 euros. Engels admits that he made a bad purchase because he was not sufficiently informed about the poor condition of the building, which is now empty. Notified of no danger of collapse or monument protection requirements, he was unable to get a picture of the property due to the great distance from his home. Parts of the facade and roof have now fallen down, resulting in part of the platform being closed off. The pressure exerted by Deutsche Bahn and the requests from the Bautzen district office to secure the building do not make the situation any easier for the property owner.
Given his financial resources, Engels also faces major challenges in finding the tradesmen needed to secure the roof. A target selling price of 26,000 euros would already mean a loss for him. Despite his commitment to cooperating with the authorities and implementing the necessary security measures, the future of the station building remains uncertain.
Safety around railway systems
The situation at Wilthen train station not only raises questions about building and property security. The safety of rail users also plays an important role. Dangerous accidents often occur at level crossings, which are often due to inattention or incorrect behavior on the part of road users. Clear rules apply, but many people are not aware of the importance of security systems. This lack of knowledge can have fatal consequences, especially for children and young people, who often deal carelessly with the dangers.
The Federal Police is involved in the “safer over it” prevention campaign, for which it works with various partners such as Deutsche Bahn and the ADAC. Accidents caused by carelessness or ignorance often end in serious injuries or even death. It is therefore important to pay attention to safety at the station building as well as to safety on the tracks and railway systems.
It remains to be seen whether Wilthen train station can soon take a positive turn. However, it is clear to the owner Engel and the residents: There is still a lot of work to do to ensure safety for everyone.