According to Matthias Gastel, a railway expert from the Green parliamentary faction, a train accident as severe as the one recently in Spain is unlikely to occur in Germany. Gastel told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition) that, based on current knowledge of the safety systems in Germany, “a comparable accident in Germany is almost certainly ruled out.”
However, the Green politician emphasized that every accident must still be thoroughly evaluated to determine if such an incident could conceivably happen in Germany. He suggested that such investigations lead to proactive improvements in railway safety.
Describing the incident as a terrible catastrophe, Gastel added that “it affects the entire railway community, myself included.” He stressed that a meticulous investigation of the events is necessary to draw correct conclusions. The Green railway expert further stated that this scrutiny must involve the entire safety architecture, focusing equally on both the technology and the human element.
