Poison in the groundwater

ÖBB now offers compensation after train accident

Styrene leaked during the train accident in September last year.

(Bild: Lauber/laumat.at Matthias)

Ten months after the train accident at the Wels marshalling yard, ÖBB has announced compensation payments. As reported, around 40,000 liters of styrene leaked during the crash and poisoned the groundwater in the west of the city. The poison even reached the border with Marchtrenk. Remediation measures are still ongoing. 

 "As the incident involved a freight train and ÖBB's infrastructure, we accept responsibility for all damage," reads a statement. Local residents can claim for damage to equipment operated in or with groundwater as well as for costs resulting from the increased use of the local water supply. To do so, they must contact BLS Rechtsanwälte GmbH in writing. Each case is examined and processed individually.

City deputy Gerhard Kroiß (FPÖ) said: "This is a good thing. Now I hope for a quick and unbureaucratic process."

22,000 liters filtered from groundwater
The remediation measures continue to be a lengthy process. Groundwater probes and barrier wells have been in use since the spring. They have been able to contain the spread of hydrocarbons in the groundwater. The spread area has now been reduced by around 73 percent since the maximum expansion in mid-March. A total of 22,000 liters of styrene have already been filtered out of the groundwater using the filter systems. The 34 remediation wells and the filter systems remain in operation.