Train crash in Germany as new cheap fare is introduced

Four people were killed and at

least 30 injured in a rail crash in Bavaria yesterday. The accident happened between Garmisch Partenkirchen and Munich, which was the  destination of the regional train operated by State owned Deutsche Bahn.

The accident happened just as passengers in Germany were offered a €9 monthly ticket for public transport under new measures introduced to tackle inflation, while petrol prices have been cut by up to 30 cent a litre.

The new fare, which is available from June to August and cannot be used on ICEs - Germany InterCity trains, is valid on local and regional buses, Underground and trains across the country.

The measure is subsidised by €2.5 billion of State funds and has already been snapped up by seven million people.

However, there are fears the cheap ticket will push too many people onto a public transport system that could struggle to cope with sudden surges.

The train involved in yesterday’s crash is said to have been crowded with passengers availing of the new cheap fare.