Shock in Braunschweig: Train hits car – driver seriously injured!

Shock in Braunschweig: Train hits car – driver seriously injured!

On June 16, 2025, at around 1:15 p.m., a serious traffic accident occurred in Braunschweig, more precisely at the unrestricted Altmarkstrasse level crossing in Bienrode. A car collided with an Erixx GmbH train that was on the way to Gifhorn. The driver of the car, 27 years old, was hit on the driver's side and thrown into a light signal and a switch box by the impact. She suffered minor injuries in the accident and was initially trapped in the vehicle. To help her, the roof of the car was cut off before she could be transported to a nearby hospital for examination. The train only came to a stop about 100 meters after the impact, and fortunately all around 50 passengers and a dog were unharmed.

The emergency services that were immediately alerted, including the fire department, police and emergency managers from Deutsche Bahn and Erixx GmbH, ensured that those affected received quick and comprehensive care. The passengers on the train were cared for directly at the scene of the accident by the Bienrode local fire department and the emergency pastoral service. They were then able to continue their journey with a replacement bus. During the operational measures, Altmarkstrasse and the railway line were closed until the scene of the accident was completely cleared. This is a recurring problem in the region, as safety at unrestricted crossings is repeatedly discussed.

Safety concerns at railway crossings

The incident in Bienrode draws attention to the safety situation at level crossings. According to a current study, there are over 13,600 level crossings in Germany, a high proportion of which are not technically secured. Many of the unrestricted intersections are only protected by visual controls and acoustic warning signals. While over 70% of Deutsche Bahn AG's level crossings are technically secured, unsecured crossings pose a significant risk, especially if road users ignore or overlook the traffic lights. Call barriers are in use at around 480 low-traffic crossings, which are intended to provide additional security in these cases.

In a similar incident that occurred on May 18, 2025, another car was hit by an Erixx train - the traffic light was also red at the time and the driver was not paying attention. This example shows that repeats of tragic events cannot be ruled out, which will once again trigger the discussion about safety at unrestricted level crossings. The number of accidents at level intersections has fallen, but many accidents are still due to driver misconduct.

The incident in Bienrode is an alarming sign that safety at level crossings needs to be continuously monitored and improved to minimize the risk to all road users. Initiatives to secure level crossings require close cooperation between Deutsche Bahn, the federal government and local road construction authorities.

Given the growing number of passengers and the importance of a safe infrastructure, it is becoming increasingly important that everyone involved shows a good hand in dealing with these sensitive traffic situations. The goal must be to prevent terrible accidents like the one in Bienrode and thus further increase safety in rail transport.

In the meantime, a look at the events of June 16, 2025 in Braunschweig shows that, despite all the technical precautions, human error continues to come into play. Therefore, the task of educating and raising awareness of the dangers at level crossings remains an ongoing challenge that everyone should take seriously.

For more information about the events in Bienrode and sustainable safety at level crossings, visit the articles from Regional today and News38.