On the Mattigtalbahn

Level crossings without barriers to be removed soon

The fatal collision occurred in Schalchen on Thursday evening

(Bild: Manfred Fesl)

Because she had presumably overlooked a local train set, there was a violent collision in which the driver was reportedly killed. The "Krone" asked what is being done about the increasing number of accidents at level crossings and how people can best protect themselves.

Once again, a level crossing without barriers has claimed a life. As reported, a 38-year-old woman was hit and dragged along by an ÖBB regional train in Schalchen in her station wagon on Thursday evening. Firefighters were only able to rescue the driver dead from the wreckage. It was not the first accident on the Mattigtalbahn to claim lives.

New traffic concept
But this will soon come to an end: "We are aware of the dangers, there are currently still six unrestricted level crossings in this area," reports Andreas Stuhlberger, Mayor of Schalchen. "A new traffic concept is being implemented: The six crossings will be replaced by two with barriers. The work will be completed in two to three years. I hope that nothing else happens between now and then."

No level crossing is completely safe
ÖBB is not idle either: Because no rail crossing is completely safe, half of all level crossings have been abandoned since 2000. This also applies to the Mattigtalbahn: "Of around 50 crossings here, 23 have been closed and the others secured with light signals and/or barriers," a spokesperson for the Austrian Federal Railways told "Krone".

How to protect yourself
Nevertheless, you should stop before every crossing, turn off the radio, open the windows and look carefully in both directions. Even if you know the journey times: there are unscheduled trains that do not appear on timetables, such as freight transports or construction and maintenance trains. However, if you should come to a standstill between barriers on the track: Put your foot on the gas! The barriers are designed to give way outwards.