Freight trains collide in Munich, causing wagons to fall from bridge

Overnight collision in Munich

Two freight trains collided overnight on a railway bridge in Munich, Germany, sending two wagons off the span and onto the street below. One person died in the crash.

Police closed the road beneath the bridge and urged drivers to avoid the area while emergency crews and rail workers worked to secure the scene and clear the wreckage.

The cause of the collision was not immediately known.

What officials and reporters said

AP reported that the wagons fell about 5 meters, or 16 feet, from the bridge. German reporting cited by AP said the wagons were empty and that there was no broader threat to public safety.

BILD reported that the crash happened around 1:40 a.m. during shunting operations on Schleißheimer Straße in Munich's Milbertshofen area. That account also said one person suffered life-threatening injuries before later dying.

Damage below the bridge

WELT later reported that debris from the fallen wagons lightly damaged a bus and seven parked cars. The publication said the bus driver was unhurt and that no passengers were aboard.

The added damage increased the disruption below the bridge, where the street remained closed as recovery work continued through the day.

Investigation and response

Munich police, German rail authorities and Deutsche Bahn are among the key actors in the follow-up investigation. Officials have not said what caused the collision or whether a procedural error during shunting played a role.

The research packet indicates that crews spent the day clearing the scene and securing the roadway below the bridge. The immediate focus was on recovering the wagons, checking the bridge area for damage and restoring safe access to Schleißheimer Straße.

What happens next

Authorities are expected to keep investigating the sequence of events that led to the crash, including how the two trains came into contact on the bridge.

Officials may also identify the person who died and provide any further updates on damage, road reopening and rail service impacts as the scene is fully cleared.