One person was killed and 18 injured in a head-on collision between two S-Bahn trains in the Munich district on Monday.

The trains collided around 4:35 p.m. near the Ebenhausen-Schäftlarn train station, reported the spokesman for the Munich police headquarters, Andreas Franken.

The cause was initially completely unclear.

According to initial findings, the two trains were traveling in opposite directions south of Munich.

The railway line is single track in this area.

Why both trains were running on the route at the same time is the subject of the investigation, said Franken.

The police headquarters work together with the federal police.

Railway safety is usually the responsibility of the Federal Police.

Six rescue helicopters from Germany and Austria

The passenger killed was therefore a 24-year-old Afghan.

Five people suffered serious injuries, 13 were moderately injured.

The passengers were rescued from the trains.

Most of them were taken to the Schäftlarn monastery for further care.

In addition to the injured, around 80 other passengers were medically examined, explained Franken.

Initially, however, no serious injuries were found.

According to a spokesman for the ADAC air rescue service, the crew of the ADAC helicopter "Christoph Murnau" was one of the first responders to the scene of the accident.

However, the helicopter was only able to land about 300 meters away because the terrain at the scene of the accident did not allow landing, he said.

The ADAC air rescuers then rescued four to five seriously injured people from the badly damaged part of the train.

A total of six rescue helicopters from Germany and Austria were deployed on site, but the injured were ultimately taken to the clinics in rescue vehicles, explained the ADAC spokesman.

Minister of Transport Schreyer at the scene of the accident

According to police spokesman Franken, one of the trains derailed, but both trains are still standing.

Around 130 police officers and numerous firefighters were on site for the rescue work and investigations.

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) expressed his dismay on Twitter after the accident.

"This is terrible news," Söder wrote on Monday evening.

"We mourn with the relatives and wish all those injured in the S-Bahn accident a speedy recovery."

Bavaria's Transport Minister Kerstin Schreyer (CSU) drove to the scene of the accident in the evening.

"I am deeply affected because so many people experience suffering," she said.

The most important thing now is that the injured and their relatives are cared for and supported.

She declined to comment on possible consequences.

"First we have to determine the cause of the accident.

If we know them, we can draw conclusions from them.”

The station is on the route of the S7 from Munich to Wolfratshausen.

As the operator of the S-Bahn, Deutsche Bahn (DB) initially announced via Twitter that there were “objects on the route” in the area between Ebenhausen-Schäftlarn and Baierbrunn.

It was later announced that the route was closed due to the rescue service and police operation and that a rail replacement service with buses had been set up.

The railway also expressed its regret.

“Our deepest sympathy goes to the families of the victims of the accident.

We wish the injured a speedy and full recovery,” said Heiko Büttner, head of the Munich S-Bahn.

In addition, DB set up a telephone hotline for relatives and those affected (0800 3111 111).

As recently as August last year, a major accident not far from the scene of the accident could only just be prevented.

Two trains converged on the single-track line near Icking.

Only an emergency stop by the two engine drivers prevented a collision.