Train chaos in Grabow: Children play on the track and stop 32 trains!

Train chaos in Grabow: Children play on the track and stop 32 trains!

It all starts like a normal Saturday evening, but in the region around Grabow (Ludwigslust-Parchim district) the idyll was suddenly interrupted: two girls aged 12 and 14 were playing on the tracks near the Hamburg-Berlin railway line. The driver of a freight train discovered the two and was fortunately able to bring the train to a stop in time, which prevented anything worse from happening. Federal police reported that the girls were found unharmed and were brought to safety by officers. But the situation has already had far-reaching consequences.

As the LZ reported, the railway line remained closed for around 50 minutes, and this had an impact on train traffic: a total of 32 trains were delayed by a staggering 1,178 minutes. Another example that shows how dangerous playing on the tracks can be. The federal police warned urgently of the extreme dangers in this area. Trains, which often travel at high speeds, are very quiet and difficult to notice. In addition, the strong suction created by moving trains often leads to tragic accidents.

A call for caution

The fact that children play near train tracks is not just an oversight, but a serious problem. It is important to educate young people about the dangers. Here it sets German railway and offers a prevention package that was specially developed for children of preschool and primary school age. “Safely on the move with Oli” is the name of this program, which teaches the correct behavior at train stations and tracks in a playful way. In collaboration with the Federal Police, materials were created that not only can be used in lessons, but are also fun.

The package includes teaching materials, videos, craft materials and a poster to educate children about the dangers. An animated film entitled “Oli's Chance” already informs students in grades 5 and 6 about safe behavior on railway systems and was even named the best children's film at the 2006 International Animated Film Festival. But young people also have a responsibility, and Deutsche Bahn has created additional prevention videos that address careless behavior. Having fun on the track can quickly lead to an accident, which everyone should understand.

It's a reminder to all parents and guardians: playing on tracks is not child's play. Even if it often happens unexpectedly, it is of the utmost importance to recognize the dangers and to sensitize the little ones at an early stage. After all, it's not just the joy of playing that is at risk, but also the lives of the children themselves. Whether it's taking a shortcut across tracks or trying to use a freight yard as an obstacle course - the risks are enormous. It is therefore essential that such incidents are understood as a warning signal, as stated in another report by the Tagesspiegel is emphatically emphasized.

Stay alert, pay attention to your children and use the information available - so that dangerous situations like those in Grabow become a thing of the past!