Accidents involving a person are often, but not always, suicides. These have a major impact on rail services.
Accidents involving a person are often, but not always, suicides. These lead to great human suffering for all concerned – the person, their relatives, passengers and staff. Furthermore, accidents involving a person have a major impact on rail services and always trigger a large-scale operation.
In the event of an accident involving a person, passengers can continue their journey with us again after an average of around 90 minutes. The entire route is usually impacted for around three hours. However, these times depend a great deal on the location of the incident.
SBB fire brigade intervention evacuates passengers from the train, helps with rescue or rescue services and cleans the locomotive and the tracks.
The railway operations manager is the point of contact for everyone involved at the incident site and manages the deployment of SBB staff. They ensure communication with the train-control centre and support for the train drivers. He/she also instructs the Safety Officer to close the track and secure the incident site.
The cantonal police take the lead at the incident site and close off the accident site. The cantonal police officers investigate the situation (taking photographs, measuring) and conduct initial interviews, including with the train driver.
Medical services carry out life-saving measures if the accident victim is still alive.
The undertaker coffins the body.
The medical examiner conducts the forensic examination: Was it a suicide, an accident or a homicide?
These persons are not always on site. Incidents are handled differently from canton to canton and who exactly is involved depends on the specific situation.
The public prosecutor’s office conducts the judicial police proceedings.
SBB Care is provided by the intervention centre, depending on the situation. They look after their relatives on site and afterwards.
The SBB Transport Police will create a security zone and monitor the barriers.
The fire brigade (not SBB Fire Brigade Intervention) will assist with rescue, barrier, lighting and evacuating passengers.
