Train derails after tree accident: 200 passengers in Wittighausen evacuated!

Train derails after tree accident: 200 passengers in Wittighausen evacuated!

On Tuesday, June 11, 2025, there was a serious incident in rail traffic near Wittighausen, Baden-Württemberg. A tree fell into the overhead line and was recorded by a regional express, which led to significant restrictions on train traffic. Around 200 passengers had to be evacuated by rescue workers before a replacement train brought them to Würzburg train station. The tree had obviously been felled by a 66-year-old man near the railway line.

The police have investigated the suspicion of dangerous intervention in rail traffic. It was estimated that there was damage of over 100,000 euros in the incident. The regional express, which collided with the tree, could then not continue and had to be towed. The railway line remained closed to regular train traffic until 10:45 p.m., which significantly impaired the travel plans for many passengers. According to ZVW are not uncommon, since fallen trees repeatedly cause considerable disorders of railway operation.

background and legal aspects

Similar incidents were also documented in other regions. For example, there were disturbances between Hamburg and Hanover when hobby gardeners felled a tree, which then fell on the overhead line of a railway line. This incident led to problems for 382 trains with a total delay of more than 20,000 minutes. In this case, the Federal Police Bremen investigates two hobby gardeners who did not have permission to cut the tree. Here, too, the tree was owned by the railway, which raises additional legal questions, as in Bahnblogstelle

Such events have caused the Federal Government to take measures in order to better protect rail operations from disorders from falling trees. The Federal Ministry of Nutrition and Agriculture (BMEL) has initiated a change from the General Railway Act for Traffic Safety at Trees along railway lines. This legislation, which came into force on July 1, particularly affects the traffic safety obligation for forest owners in order to avoid future incidents. Further details on the specific regulations were mentioned in Wald-Wiki not.

Overall, the incident in Wittighausen illustrates the significant risks that can assume uncontrolled tree felling and raises questions about the responsibility of those who deal with trees near train tracks.