Overview
- A six‑person maintenance crew was working on an open track in Essen‑Katernberg when an ICE passed and struck two workers late on Sunday evening, 25 October.
- Emergency teams including professional and volunteer fire brigades, the rescue service, Bundespolizei, Deutsche Bahn staff and Red Cross responders secured the scene and provided trauma counselling to survivors and the train driver.
- One worker died at the scene and the other was pulled from the tracks with a Drehleiter and taken to hospital with severe injuries; police say the injured person is not believed to be in immediate life‑threatening condition.
- Polizei Essen has taken over the inquiry, a special commission is examining possible negligent homicide, investigators are analysing traces and witness statements, and no definitive cause has yet been released.
- The line between Gelsenkirchen Hbf and Essen‑Altenessen remains closed with trains rerouted and replacement services in place, and officials note the section has a 160 km/h limit while they assess whether safety procedures or signalling played a role.