Key German rail connector blocked after collision, propane gas leak

Train service has been disrupted on a key central German route after the collision of two cargo trains, resulting in a propane gas leak, according to police and fire officials on Thursday, reported dpa.

One of the trains involved in the accident, which happened near the community of Gifhorn, was carrying 25 tanker cars full of propane, two of which are currently leaking, said a police spokesperson. In all, two tanker wagons derailed and two others were knocked entirely on their side.

Clean-up work is expected to take an entire day.

Hundreds of metres of cables was also ripped down. The power has been turned off and train traffic in both directions has been shut down.

That will entail significant disruptions, since the route is a key connector for Berlin to major cities like Cologne, Hanover and Amsterdam.

The accident apparently happened around 3:40 am (0240 GMT) when one cargo train was waiting at a signal and a second one accelerated into it for unexplained reason, a fire department spokesperson told dpa. The driver of the second train suffered light injuries and has been taken to hospital.

It is not clear how much propane leaked out. But responders said there is no danger to local residents from the explosive gas, since the accident happened in the middle of a wooded area.