Ahlen freight train driver detained on suspicion of intoxication

A 31-year-old Dutch locomotive driver working for a private transport company was removed from duty by the Federal Police in North Rhine-Westphalia following suspicions of alcohol consumption.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon near Ahlen. The driver reportedly stopped his freight train between Heessen and Ahlen without authorization and became unreachable by Deutsche Bahn dispatchers and emergency control centers. An oncoming locomotive driver noticed the stopped train and reported that the driver appeared to be sleeping in the cab.

Although the train moved again before police arrived, it eventually stopped at the Ahlen freight station, where the driver was located by a Deutsche Bahn emergency manager. Authorities noted that the individual refused a voluntary breathalyzer test, prompting them to take a blood sample.

An investigation into the endangerment of rail traffic has been initiated. The incident caused a complete closure of the railway line, affecting 26 trains and resulting in a total delay of 1,124 minutes.