In Lower Saxony, a freight train collides with a waiting train, and explosive propane gas escapes. Now the cold is hindering the work of the emergency services and the gas cannot be flared any further for the time being. In an emergency, alternative solutions must be considered.
After the serious accident involving two freight trains in Leiferde in the Lower Saxony district of Gifhorn, the cold makes the work of the emergency services more difficult. The flaring of the explosive propane gas from an overturned tank wagon has now been stopped for the time being, said a fire department spokesman. The experts from the plant fire brigade prepared it again – they checked whether the temperature was sufficient. Otherwise there will be “further considerations”, but a solution has not yet been determined.
A second torch is also being prepared. The NDR had previously reported. In view of the cold, there was not enough pressure to burn the gas in a controlled manner. According to the fire brigade spokesman, it has to change from a liquid to a gaseous state. The gas had previously been pumped out of the overturned tank wagons, but this was only half possible due to the lopsided position of the wagons. Burning off the remaining gas could take several days.
The accident happened on the railway line between Hanover and Berlin last Thursday. First, a freight train stopped at a signal. According to the findings of the investigators, an employee of Deutsche Bahn wrongly released the route for another freight train. This train with 25 tank cars filled with propane gas collided with the stationary train. Four wagons fell on their side, two were so badly damaged that the gas escaped. The overhead line was also damaged. The train driver was slightly injured.
According to Deutsche Bahn, the route will remain closed until at least November 27th. Trains are diverted. Train passengers must continue to prepare for failures and delays. One possible way to warm up the wagons is to sprinkle them with warm water, said the fire brigade spokesman. However, Deutsche Bahn has expressed concerns because the water is softening the soil and making recovery with cranes more difficult. However, salvage is only possible once the flammable gas has burned off.