2006 Lathen maglev train accident
| Date | 22 September 2006 |
|---|---|
| Time | 09:30 |
| Location | Lathen, Lower Saxony |
| Country | Germany |
| Rail line | Lathen - Dörpen test track |
| Operator | Transrapid International |
| Type of incident | Collision |
| Cause | Human error |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 + MOW vehicle |
| Deaths | 23 |
| Injuries | 11 |
The Lathen train collision occurred on 22 September 2006 when a Transrapid magnetic levitation (or "maglev") train collided with a maintenance vehicle near Lathen, Germany, killing 23 people. This was the first ever fatal accident on a maglev train.
The Transrapid 08 was still doing trial runs, but it did carry passengers along a 31.8-kilometre (19.8 mi) test track to demonstrate the maglev technology. The Emsland test track runs from Lathen, near where the accident occurred, to Dörpen, with a loop at each end, and a depot side track near the southern loop. Speeds of up to 450 km/h (280 mph) are reached on the test track.
Maglev trains use powerful magnets to keep them just above the tracks.
Every morning a wheeled diesel-powered maintenance vehicle ran across the tracks to check them for debris. When these works are finished, it has to wait before the last turnout. There were two workers on the maintenance vehicle who radioed the line dispatcher for clearance to leave the track but they did not get a response. They were unaware of a test run scheduled that morning which was to be half an hour earlier than usual carrying visitors from associated companies - including employees at Transrapid, workers from a local nursing care company and workers from local utility company RWE.
The maglev train was boarded according to usual routine. The train left the station at 09:43 going for a brake test first. After that it had to wait for clearance from the line dispatcher. The line dispatchers energized the tracks at 09:52 and one line dispatcher radioed the maglev train to proceed. No communication with the maintenance vehicle is recorded. The transrapid used its high acceleration to achieve the 170 km/h that was common for the first test round before trying 450 km/h on the following test rounds.
About 57 seconds after the start of the train at 09:53 an emergency braking is recorded. The maglev train hit the maintenance vehicle less than 0.56 seconds (25 metres) later at a speed of 162 km/h. The lightweight design of the transrapid caused it to dive under the heavy (60 tonne) maintenance vehicle, ripping off the roof of the maglev train. The wreckage went for another 300 meters on the track before coming to a halt.
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Wikipedia