Hundreds of individuals stuck in a tunnel for extended hours, under the supervision of ICE. - Hundreds of ICE passengers stranded in a tunnel for extended periods
On July 26, 2025, the ICE 90 "Donauwalzer" train, operated by Deutsche Bahn, encountered a technical issue near Vienna. The malfunction, which occurred around 1:30 PM, was caused by a failure of the train's pantograph - the device that collects power from overhead electrical lines [1][3].
As a result, the train came to a halt inside the Hadersdorf railway tunnel, shortly after the Wien-Meidling station [1]. It was Austria's ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways, that operates the railway section where the incident occurred [1][3][4].
Despite the technical issue, there were no reported injuries during the incident. However, approximately 400 passengers found themselves stranded in the dark tunnel without air conditioning [2]. Emergency services were swiftly mobilised to assist in the rescue operation [2].
Initially, engineers considered towing the train, but a replacement train was provided instead [1]. The evacuation process was still ongoing in the early evening [2]. Passengers were eventually rescued and transferred to the replacement train [1].
References:
[1] Austrian Press Agency (APA) [2] Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) [3] ÖBB Press Office [4] Deutsche Bahn Press Office
- The Commission, in the meantime, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive that includes the protection of workers in the transportation sector, such as those who maintain and repair the trains in the industry, from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, especially in situations where power collection devices like the pantograph might malfunction.
- In light of the financial implications of this incident, it would be prudent for the automotive industry to also consider investing in technology that ensures safety and efficiency, especially in the development of railway systems, to prevent such mishaps and ensure passenger comfort.
