Cologne - The calls sounded desperate, the Saturday evening, received by the police. They came from the Regional Express RE 1 from Cologne to Aachen.
Because there were 200 people helplessly trapped in the smoke-filled train, 20 of them were injured.
Even at the exit of the station Ehrenfeld passengers had noticed a burning smell. Volker Ramacher from Düren: "Through the smoke ventilation system then suddenly withdrew. Everybody was afraid of a fire. "
The passengers desperately pressed the alarm button - but nothing happened. Several passengers tried in panic to get into the rearmost compartment. In the hope that there is not the smoke is so pungent.
Because the windows of the trains are now no longer open to some men wanted to smash the window when the train suddenly stopped in Frechen-Königsdorf on the open road. But then the next shock, the eyewitness Diau Elsa (20) from Bonn: "The doors would not open it."
A railway spokesman: "This is so for safety reasons, because the track was still closed to rail traffic. Otherwise disembarking passengers from trains could be recorded. "
Only after 10 minutes it was finally time. Coughing and sweating, the passengers rushed into the open, including children. They were immediately investigated and handled by arriving paramedics.
As fire and police were on their way to the accident site, reported to the headquarters of the railway to the police: "You can cancel the bet, it involves only a fixed brake."
The rescuers went there anyway - and had 16 injured people care, wanted four self to the doctor. The cops then determined against the rail.
