: Hannes Uhl, Hubertus Godeysen
: 155 The Kaprun Cover-Up
: Edition A
: 9783990014653
: 1
: CHF 15.30
:
: Sonstiges
: English
: 176
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
On November 11, 2000, a train caught fire in a mountain tunnel at the Kaprun ski resort in Austria, killing 155 people. The disaster and its aftermath traumatized the nation. This in-depth account by authors Hannes Uhl and Hubertus Godeysen brings the events to life and reveals the astonishing incompetence and corruption that led to the accident and undermined the subsequent trial. 155: The Kaprun Cover-Up serves as a warning to people in every country about threats to public safety and the rule of law.

Hannes Uhl, born 1972, comes from a neighboring town of Kaprun, and, as a journalist, has been working intensively on coverage of the catastrophe.

Chapter 7


Maximilian Steiner, 27, is there with a group from Vilseck, Bavaria. He was one of the last passengers to get on the"Kitzsteingams." He’s standing in the lowest part of the train, next to the wall that separates his coach from the unoccupied attendant’s cab, which he can see right into through a small viewing window. His friends from Vilseck are gathered around him in a dense group. With 161 people and all their ski equipment inside, the train is so crowded that everyone is standing shoulder-to-shoulder. They can hardly move.

"Here we go," says someone as the train starts up."In this weather," another passenger says,"it would actually have made more sense to take the cable car."

The train has advanced 30 meters when a man next to Steiner raises the alarm:"Look, there’s smoke coming out back there."

Steiner leans over and peers into the unoccupied valley-side cab beneath him. He’s not yet worried by what he sees. The light grey smoke issuing from the fittings is roughly the amount that would come from two or three cigarettes."It’s not that bad," the two agree,"Let's just stay calm."

Steiner looks up and makes eye contact with the other members of his group, but he can’t get his mind off what’s happening in the attendant’s cab. What’s causing that smoke? In just a few seconds, it has increased significantly. At that point, the train is only halfway to the tunnel entrance, still out in the open. A man he doesn’t know on the other side of the carriage can see through another little window and shouts loudly enough for everyone to hear:"Calm down! Don’t panic, we need to remain calm." He rummages in his ski jacket, pulls out his phone, and tries to make a call. That must be a local, thinks Steiner. Can he stop the train? It takes ages for the man to put the phone to his ear. Meanwhile, the train has left the valley station so far behind that it looks like a miniature. The tunnel entrance above them is getting closer and closer, and before they know it, it’s swallowed the train.

"Dammit," swears the man into his collar,"no connection."

The train is enveloped in darkness. Under the light of the neon lamps in the ceiling of the train coach, people can make out the tunnel wall, which seems to be rushing past them at breakneck speed. Steiner finds it hard to stay calm. The people around him have already noticed the burning smell. They’re upset, looking around:"What is that? Something’s burning."

Steiner stares incredulously as the smoke fills the attendant’s cab. This could get serious, he thinks. The people above him can’t see the source of the smell and are arguing about it."Stay calm!" shouts one, almost commanding them,"Calm down."

"We have to stop the train!" yells another.

Thirty meters fur