Lüdinghausen (dpa / lnw) - A regional train (RB51) near Lüdinghausen in Münsterland collided with five cows late Thursday evening. The ten people on the train were not injured. Four animals died immediately after the collision, a cow was relieved of its suffering a short time later, as the federal police announced on Friday.
The regional train was on its way from Dortmund via Lüdinghausen to Enschede when it hit the cows despite emergency braking. The Deutsche Bahn train was said to have been so badly damaged that it was no longer roadworthy and had to be towed to Coesfeld. The passengers continued in the taxi.
According to the current state of investigation, 13 cows had escaped from their pasture. The remaining eight animals were recaptured. According to the federal police, it is still being determined why the cattle were able to get onto the tracks and how great the total damage to property is. The railway line remained closed for about four hours. It was reopened to rail traffic at 4:30 a.m. on Friday morning.
