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When a freight train derails, a tank car leaks or a passenger accident in freight transport, the DB Cargo emergency service is there to help. Christoph Kirschning, Operational Manager Production Operations and emergency service employee in Wanne-Eickel, talks about his work at the interface between organization, technology and human resilience - and why he appreciates this challenging task so much.

"You can't adjust to it"

The DB Cargo emergency service is not an independent position, but a function performed by managers. Christoph Kirschning has been part of this team for almost ten years and is always alerted when unusual incidents occur on the routes in western Germany. His operational area extends from Münster to Witten, from Gladbeck to Dortmund. "You never know what's coming. It could be a train collision or a missing employee," explains Kirschning. "Then the entire station is closed, sometimes with the involvement of the German Federal Police," he says.

Put puzzle pieces together to form a picture

The emergency service's tasks range from acute crisis management to investigating causes and cooperating with the authorities. Whether it is a derailment in which wagons with a total weight of up to 120 tons tip over or a leaking tank car - the emergency service employees document the incidents in full, take photos, arrange for replacement wagons and equipment and hold discussions with the colleagues affected.

It's not just about technical errors, but also about the psychological strain on those involved. "Sometimes an employee is not injured, but is so psychologically affected that they have to be pulled out of the incident," explains Kirschning. This is followed by a detailed analysis: How did the incident occur? What measures need to be taken? This is often done in close coordination with rail safety managers and site managers. Depending on the cause, disciplinary consequences may follow, such as follow-up training or steps under labor law.

Profile: Christoph Kirschning

How I came to DB Cargo:

Even as a child, I was fascinated by trains. It all started with model trains, and later I loved watching trains. It was clear to me early on that I really wanted to work on the railroad. After my training as a rail employee in operations service, I progressed step by step - first as a shunting attendant, then as a shunting locomotive driver, before finally becoming a dispatcher. Today, I am the operations manager at the Wanne-Eickel site.

What do you find particularly appealing about the job?

The mixture of office work and on-site operations: I know what makes up the work of the employees out in the field because I worked as a shunting attendant and dispatcher myself. This proximity creates trust and enables me to better combine practical experience with organizational requirements. What's more, my work remains exciting because no two days are the same.

My hobbies and interests are:

In my free time, I am just as connected to the railroad as I am in my job: I am involved with AKE Rheingold, a historic special train. I work there as a train manager and train attendant and also do switchman duties.

From dustbins to train collisions

The assignments are not always dramatic. Christoph Kirschning recalls a curious incident at the beginning of the year: "On the first of January, shortly after 3 p.m., the production coordinator called me. There was vandalism in the parking lot. It was very windy here on New Year's Eve. It turned out that the wind was the culprit that had pushed the garbage cans around."

Cooperation with external partners such as the fire department, the police or the THW is particularly important. Regular drills ensure that everyone involved can work hand in hand in an emergency. "For example, we show the emergency services how to get into a locomotive if it's on fire - because it's not like a car, where you can simply cut open the bodywork," explains Kirschning. A large part of the emergency service's work is prevention. Most incidents are caused by human error, which is why regulations are constantly being adapted. "All these rules are the result of incidents that have happened outside," says Christoph Kirschning.

Future of the emergency service

The work of the DB Cargo emergency service has changed thanks to new technologies. Tablets are now replacing the old paper folders, and modern emergency vehicles such as SUVs are making logistics easier. "If there's a bang somewhere, we're on the spot quickly," says Christoph Kirschning. But one thing will not change: the unpredictable nature of the missions. "That makes the work exciting and challenging at the same time."