Battery-powered trains cause chaos at Kiel train station – commuters despair!

Battery-powered trains cause chaos at Kiel train station – commuters despair!

At the train station in Kiel there is once again trouble with the overhead lines, which are regularly damaged by battery-powered trains. This not only leads to disruptions in rail traffic, but also to massive train cancellations and delays, which put commuters to a tough test of patience. The problem became particularly drastic recently due to an incident in Neumünster, in which people on the tracks led to delays lasting hours. It is therefore clear that travelers' nerves are often on edge, especially since the train's communication is not always the best in such situations. While the railway is often criticized, the cause of many failures cannot be found in its area of ​​responsibility.

Regular total failures at Kiel main station are now the order of the day. These are directly related to the damage to the overhead lines caused by the battery trains. What is particularly worrying is that train drivers are responsible for lowering the pantograph after charging the battery train - a task that must be completed around 500 times a day. In stressful situations, it is not surprising that human errors occur, such as forgetting to lower, which is why the country took early measures to reduce this error.

Measures against overhead line disruptions

To improve the situation, various initiatives are being taken. This includes the introduction of a driver assistance system, improved training for staff and the installation of warning notices on the tracks. Some of these measures are already being implemented. However, it remains to be seen whether and when an automatic reduction in the number of pantographs can be implemented, as this is currently linked to a European train system and is not yet in sight.

A recent incident that once again demonstrated the fragility of the system occurred on July 8, 2025: trains were canceled between Flensburg and Neumünster and between Kiel and Husum. The cause was the impact of an open hatch of a tank traveling on a freight train against the overhead line in Owschlag. This led to a voltage drop and paralyzed train traffic in Rendsburg for hours. At this point, not only regional trains were affected, but also freight traffic and connections between Hamburg and Copenhagen.

Rail transport safety in view

Despite these problems, it should not be forgotten that rail transport in Germany and Europe has a high level of safety. Statistics show that from 2012 to 2021 there were only 0.08 deaths per 1 billion passenger kilometers in rail transport in the EU, and in Germany only 0.02. This is in stark contrast to the figures for road transport, where 2.6 people lost their lives per 1 billion passenger kilometers over the same period.

Rail safety is constantly being improved as rail accidents can cause significant damage. Safety measures have been a central element in the planning of railway routes right from the start, such as the avoidance of level crossings. Modern systems ensure that critical errors by employees are minimized and the probability of an accident remains low. Nevertheless, the public is repeatedly made aware of safety-related issues, particularly in the event of catastrophic accidents.

At first glance it may seem that expanding and maintaining the rail network is a chore, but every measure is a step towards a more reliable and safer transport system. Commuters' trust in the train is becoming increasingly important. A good knack for handling these challenges is crucial.

For further information on the incidents and current developments around Kiel train station, you can read the reports from kn online and ndr see. For further analysis on rail safety, take a look forschungsinformationsysteme.de.