Large-scale exercise in the Katzenberg tunnel – organized by Gruner

This time, the scenario involved a burning train with around 170 passengers coming to a stop in the Katzenberg Tunnel between Efringen-Kirchen and Bad Bellingen. The emergency call is triggered, rail traffic is suspended and the passengers are evacuated via emergency exits and cross-passages to the safe tunnel tube. Around 400 people from the fire brigade, police and ambulance service, as well as other organizations, were deployed for this purpose last Saturday, in addition to around 170 volunteers who had made themselves available as train passengers. Regular rail operations in the tunnel were completely suspended for a period of around five hours.

Safety is the top priority

"Such exercises are an important part of testing the rescue concept under conditions that are as realistic as possible and of ensuring the safety of rail passengers," says Stephan Gundel, Chief Safety Expert at Gruner and one of the exercise leaders together with the DB. "Even though such scenarios are highly unlikely due to the safety concept of European railway tunnels, the safety of passengers and emergency services is of the utmost priority for the DB," he explains. Gruner has been supporting the project since the design phase and developed a safety and rescue concept with the responsible authorities and organizations for both the interior construction and later for operation. Since the tunnel's opening in 2012, Gruner has been organizing the major exercises that take place every three years. The almost 10-kilometer-long Katzenberg Tunnel is part of the upgraded and newly built Karlsruhe-Basel line.