A serious accident occurred on Thursday evening (October 23) in Munich’s Schwabing district, when a tram on Line 23 derailed and crashed into parts of the Schwabinger Tor station.
According to police, the accident took place around 8:50 p.m. as the tram was heading city-bound toward Münchner Freiheit. The tram left the tracks in a curve and collided with the station’s roof structure.
Four people were injured in the crash — including the tram driver, who suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. Three passengers were treated on site by emergency services for minor injuries.
Significant damage and road closures
Both the tram and the station sustained considerable structural damage, police reported. The section of Leopoldstraße near Schwabinger Tor was temporarily closed to traffic to allow for rescue and recovery operations.
Firefighters and MVG engineers worked through the night to stabilize the damaged roof and remove the derailed tram. Authorities confirmed there was no evidence of external interference, though the exact cause of the derailment remains under investigation by Munich’s traffic police.
MVG announces diversions and replacement service
By Friday morning, Munich’s public transport company MVG warned commuters to expect severe service disruptions on tram lines in the area.
- Line 23 remains suspended until further notice.
- Line 12 has been rerouted and currently operates only between Romanplatz and Parzivalplatz, continuing via Münchner Freiheit.
- Stops at Schwabing Nord, Domagkstraße, Anni-Albers-Straße, Am Münchner Tor and Schwabinger Tor are temporarily out of service in both directions.
MVG has deployed replacement buses (SEV) along the affected section, but capacity is limited, and buses may stop at the right-hand lane of the road instead of designated tram stops.
The company expects restrictions to continue until at least midnight on Saturday, October 25, as recovery and repair work proceeds.
Commuter advice
Authorities advise passengers to check the MVG Fahrinfo App or mvg.de for the latest service updates. Those commuting toward Schwabing Nord or Münchner Freiheit are urged to allow extra travel time during rush hours and, if possible, switch to U-Bahn lines U3 and U6 to avoid delays.
