Horror tram crash in Berlin leaves 20 passengers injured

A major emergency rescue operation was launched in eastern Berlin on Tuesday, June 2, after a modern commuter tram derailed at high speed and slammed into a utility pole. The violent impact ripped open the side of the passenger vehicle, leaving a scene of devastating destruction and at least 20 people injured.

The accident took place at approximately 9.30am in the Neu-Hohenschönhausen area of the German capital. A 40-metre-long Flexity tram, operated by the city’s transport authority, BVG, was navigating a sharp left-hand bend at the junction of Wartenberger Straße and Arnimstraße when it suddenly jumped the tracks.

Major emergency response on Berlin tracks

Around 60 firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the crash site. First responders found the rear section of the tram completely derailed, with the right side torn open by a heavy overhead line power pole.

Berlin’s emergency services confirmed that out of the 20 injured passengers, three were treated for serious, non-critical injuries. Twelve people were rushed to local hospitals, while the remaining walking wounded received immediate medical treatment on the tarmac. Fire officials noted that it was an absolute miracle none of the multi-carriage vehicles overturned, which thankfully successfully prevented a far higher casualty count.

Power to the entire district’s network was immediately isolated by a BVG emergency manager to allow fire crews to safely remove the trapped passengers.

Investigators focus on excessive speed

No official caused has been confirmed, but local transit investigators and police are heavily focusing on excessive speed. The specific curve where the M17 tram derailed carries a strict speed limit of just 10 km/h, preceded by a 30 km/h deceleration zone roughly 100 metres prior.

Sources within the BVG admitted that looking at the extent of the wreckage, the vehicle was highly likely to have been travelling significantly faster than permitted. Forensic teams are currently checking the physical rails for structural fractures, while also investigating whether the tram operator suffered a sudden medical emergency at the controls.

Visiting the scene, Berlin’s Transport Senator, Ute Bonde, described the wreckage as “devastating” but noted a stroke of luck with regards to timings, because the incident happened just after the morning rush hour, only 20 passengers were aboard the usually packed commuter line.

Severe public transport disruption expected

The complex clean-up operation has forced the deployment of heavy lifting equipment and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) crane units to pull the mangled tram away from the crushed infrastructure.

BVG officials have announced that tram lines M5 and M17 remain completely suspended between Gehrenseestraße and Falkenberg. Due to heavily damaged overhead lines and multiple bent power poles, normal rail services are not expected to resume until Friday. June 5, with replacement bus routes currently handling the affected commuter traffic.

The incident comes just weeks after a separate horror collision in Düsseldorf injured more than 50 people.