Train accident in Garmisch: Victims demand fair compensation!

Train accident in Garmisch: Victims demand fair compensation!

On June 3, 2022, the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region experienced a tragic train accident that will resonate in people's minds for a long time. A regional train on the route to Munich derailed on a curve near Burgrain at a speed of around 100 km/h. Five people died, including four women and a 13-year-old boy, and over 70 were injured. A sad climax for the region, which had recently prepared for the G7 summit. Mayor Elisabeth Koch describes the scene of the accident as “ghostly” and can still remember the desperate rescue measures that were carried out there. The trial against two railway employees has now begun and raises questions that go far beyond the individual case.

What happens next? Two railway employees are on trial for negligent homicide. The accusation? Misconduct, specifically failure to replace dilapidated concrete sleepers. Internal reports show that the railcar driver reported that his train was “sagging” a week earlier, but this warning was not taken seriously. Another train driver described the track situation before the accident as a “long-drawn question mark”. According to the final report from the Federal Bureau of Railway Accident Investigation (BEU), the main cause of the accident is the dilapidated sleepers. Despite these serious findings, Deutsche Bahn has replaced over 1.7 million sleepers since the accident and hopes to improve safety measures.

The fate of the victims

Petra F. (74), one of the survivors, is still suffering from the consequences of the accident. She now lives in a nursing home and is in serious need of care. Previous activities such as cycling and table tennis are now just memories for her. Her son Alexander only recognizes her sporadically. Her health problems are serious: she developed anxiety attacks and suffered several cerebral infarctions, which drastically changed her life. Although Deutsche Bahn has so far paid 7,000 euros in compensation, it is still waiting for appropriate compensation. A total of 50,000 euros was offered, which many consider to be far too low.

It remains unclear how other victims of the accident will be compensated. For example, a family of one of the victims received 21,000 euros, which the family's lawyer criticized as insufficient. The legal upper limit for compensation in Germany is 600,000 euros, but not if it can be proven that railway employees were responsible for the accident.

The legal framework and outlook

The trial in Munich, which began on October 28, 2025, is being watched with eager anticipation by many. The proceedings initiated are not only a form of justice for the victims and their relatives, but also a signal to Deutsche Bahn that such incidents must not remain without consequences. The incident joins a long list of rail accidents in Germany that have been documented since 1871 and have often led to changes in safety regulations. Coming to terms with the accident in Garmisch-Partenkirchen could not only be important for those affected, but could also have far-reaching effects on safety standards in German rail traffic.

The events surrounding the accident raise questions that we as a society cannot ignore. High safety standards and the well-being of passengers must always be a priority. Hopefully we can learn from this tragedy and avoid such consequences in the future - for the safety of everyone.

For further information on the accident and the trial, please contact us Picture, ZDF and the Wikipedia available.