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Young man seriously injured after deliberately braking a train in Liesing!
A 20-year-old was seriously injured when he intentionally triggered a train emergency brake at Atzgersdorf train station. Police are investigating.
Young man seriously injured after deliberately braking a train in Liesing!
On Tuesday evening, September 23, 2025, a dramatic incident occurred at Atzgersdorf train station in Liesing, which attracted the attention of the authorities. A 20-year-old man deliberately tried to trigger a train emergency braking by jumping onto the tracks. In this dangerous action, he was hit by an approaching train, resulting in serious injuries.
The emergency braking was initiated by the train driver when he discovered the person in the track area. Despite the acute danger and injuries, the young man then fled and hid in a nearby apartment block. The police later found him and temporarily arrested him. The 20-year-old is now facing charges of intentionally endangering the public. According to the report by meinkreis.at After receiving initial care from the Vienna rescue service, he was taken to a shock room and later transferred to a psychiatric ward.
Emergency brakes: A double-edged sword
The emergency brake fulfills an important function in rail traffic. It makes it possible to quickly bring trains to a halt in the event of damage and to alert train crews in emergency situations. Historical review shows that the alarm system in the 19th century was still unreliable. But a lot has happened since then. Modern technology allows emergency braking to be triggered by a rapid drop in pressure in the main air line, which leads to an immediate reduction in speed. Even in newer railcars, the systems are optimized to ensure passenger safety, such as Wikipedia explained.
However, the emergency brake must not be activated carelessly. It is only legally permitted in actual dangerous situations. Unauthorized pulling can not only lead to an abrupt stop of the train, which can be particularly dangerous for standing passengers, but can also have criminal consequences. If the conditions are not met, the person concerned faces contractual penalties and it is a criminal offense according to Section 145 of the Criminal Code, which can be punished with a fine or imprisonment, as shown on advocard.de can be read in detail.
Investigations are ongoing
The Vienna State Criminal Police Office has now started an investigation because the 20-year-old is suspected of having deliberately triggered an emergency brake, not for the first time. Such deliberate actions not only undermine the railway's safety precautions but also put other passengers in great danger. The security situation in rail transport in Vienna will continue to be closely monitored in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Overall, this incident shows how much attention needs to be paid to safety in public transport and how serious the emergency braking function actually is. The events in Liesing are an urgent call to use such security-relevant systems responsibly and not to underestimate the seriousness of the situation in the event of misconduct.