Cyclists stop train on Rügen: asking away leads to criminal proceedings!

Cyclists stop train on Rügen: asking away leads to criminal proceedings!

What happened last week on the picturesque Baltic Sea island of Rügen literally makes you shake your head. Two cyclists, a 58-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman from Lower Saxony, decided to take a short break in the middle of the railway line between Sassnitz and Lietzow and immediately ask for directions. They simply placed their e-bike on the tracks, which led to a dramatic emergency braking of an approaching regional express. After this unplanned stop, the two of them turned directly to the train driver.

As the Kleine Zeitung reports, the incident, which occurred on June 12, 2025, resulted in rail traffic having to be stopped for almost an hour. Even though fortunately no injuries or damage to property were reported, the federal police had to initiate criminal proceedings against the two due to the dangerous interference with rail traffic.

A life-threatening undertaking

Unfortunately, incidents of this kind are not isolated. According to the Federal Police, which was informed by the Deutsche Bahn emergency control center, it has repeatedly been shown that people underestimate the immense risk associated with staying in the track area. Trains cannot swerve at high speeds of up to 160 km/h and have a long braking distance of 800 to 1,000 meters. In addition, the trains can approach silently. This means that your life is in danger in a very short time in the track area, as the Presseportal concluded.

The local police specifically warned that the suction of the trains could cause serious or fatal injuries to even people nearby. “Anyone who goes on the tracks not only risks their own life, but also that of others,” explained a spokesman for the Federal Police. Meanwhile, the cyclists conducted their own investigation by asking for directions, unaware that their behavior had caused a massive disruption to train traffic.

Education is the be-all and end-all

In order to prevent such dangerous situations, Deutsche Bahn relies on comprehensive educational measures. It works closely with the federal police to ensure that children and young people in particular are informed about the dangers in the track area. As Deutsche Bahn puts it, entering railway facilities is generally prohibited - an important principle that is often ignored. Behaviors in particular, such as taking selfies on the tracks or taking shortcuts over rails, represent an enormous risk.

This makes it all the more important that appropriate information is provided at train stations and on public transport. The commitment not only includes stands and teaching units, but also the distribution of age-appropriate materials. Deutsche Bahn wants to ensure greater safety and protect people from the deadly dangers in the track area.