Fire brigade evacuates 50 passengers after train failure in Gifhorn!

Fire brigade evacuates 50 passengers after train failure in Gifhorn!

On Saturday evening, June 23, 2025, the fire department was alerted when a regional train on the route between Braunschweig and Uelzen came to a standstill due to a technical defect. Over 50 passengers, including a pregnant woman and a small child, reported to the Gifhorn control center at around 8:50 p.m. because the train had not moved on for more than an hour. This led to a mass casualty incident (MANV) and a large fire department deployment regionalheute.de reported.

The alerted fire departments from Neudorf-Platendorf and Triangel were quickly on site and deployed with 26 emergency services, supported by an ambulance, an emergency doctor and the organizational head of the rescue service. The Gifhorn and Nord standbys of the German Red Cross also came to help. The train was about 200 meters from the nearest level crossing, which further complicated the situation.

Evacuation of passengers

The fire department decided to evacuate the travelers in a controlled manner. Extension ladders were used to help passengers get out. The evacuees were then taken to a collection point at the railway crossing, where they were provided with drinks and care. Fortunately, there were no injuries and therefore medical treatment was not necessary. The passengers were finally taken in personnel transport vehicles from the fire department and the German Red Cross to the nearby train station in Wahrenholz, where a replacement train was already waiting to continue the journey north.

This incident sheds light on the changes in Deutsche Bahn's emergency management that were initiated by the railway reform of 1993/94. The regulations for hazard prevention have been adapted so that the federal states have been responsible for fire protection since 1994. According to a report on forschungsinformationsysteme.de Railway companies must ensure fire protection and technical assistance measures. This is particularly relevant when considering the fire service operations required in critical situations like this.

Comparison with other incidents

Such evacuations are not new. There was a similar incident in Berlin on Monday last week, where around 350 passengers had to be evacuated from three trains due to a technical defect in an S-Bahn. The fire department was also there with 50 emergency services br.de reported. It is striking how important coordination between the different rescue teams is in such situations.

In conclusion, it can be said that such operational situations pose major challenges not only to the emergency services, but also to the passengers. This incident shows once again how important good cooperation between all those involved is in emergency management.