Deutsche Bahn has admitted far-reaching failures following the conclusion of an independent investigation into the 2022 Garmisch-Partenkirchen train crash, which left five people dead and 72 injured. The report, prepared by law firm Gleiss Lutz, found the accident was caused by defective concrete sleepers and avoidable errors at both operational and management levels.
The regional express derailed on 3 June 2022 between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Farchant. According to investigators, the sleepers had lost their strength due to chemical reactions inside the reinforced concrete core. Interviews with more than 60 people and analysis of ten million data points revealed that warning signs had been ignored.
The law firm concluded the crash was 'avoidable', pointing to rule breaches by staff on the ground and insufficient action by then-DB Netz management despite extensive knowledge of defective sleepers. Former board members are also implicated.
"This result is shocking and deeply saddening," said Philipp Nagl, head of DB InfraGO. "I can assure the bereaved and the victims that we have already taken, and will continue to take, comprehensive consequences. That includes action against those responsible and new safeguards to prevent future misconduct."
DB has already launched a sweeping sleeper replacement programme, removing around two million sleepers so far. Stricter technical guidelines, training measures, and safety monitoring have also been introduced. A long-term remediation project, set to run until 2027, will address organisational, procedural and cultural shortcomings.
InfraGO confirmed it will also pursue damages claims against former board members. Gleiss Lutz will monitor DB’s remediation efforts as part of voluntary oversight. Nagl added: "We will implement the lessons from this report without compromise."
