This diagram shews the positions of the support columns relative to the line. Car No4 struck those at the top of the diagram, dislodging them and bringing the deck crashing down onto the centre of car No5 as it sped beneath.
The line through Eschede had been upgraded for high speeds, part of which involved the removal of level (grade) crossings. The bridge at Eschede was just such a replacement. The bridge consisted of a 3-section road decking supported by concrete pillars at either side of the rail formation. These were just a few metres from the line where trains pass at 125mph.
This diagram shews the positions of the support columns relative to the line. Car No4 struck those at the top of the diagram, dislodging them and bringing the deck crashing down onto the centre of car No5 as it sped beneath.
The energy that the pillars had to absorb may be calculated
Unprotected by any form of crash barrier (unlike motorway bridges), the slender supports were no match for the onslaught of the heavy, fast-moving ICE.
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