Summary:
A 24-year-old Algerian man, residing illegally in Austria, faced deportation after risking his life by clinging to the outside of a high-speed train for 20 miles. The incident occurred when he stepped off the Vienna-bound train for a cigarette break during a station stop, only to be left behind as the train departed. Austrian authorities condemned his actions as irresponsible, emphasizing the dangers posed to both himself and emergency responders. The man was arrested upon arrival in Vienna and is now facing legal consequences as well as deportation.
What This Means for You:
- Prioritize Safety: Avoid stepping off trains during short stops, especially on high-speed routes, to prevent life-threatening situations.
- Legal Awareness: Ensure you have valid travel and residency documents when traveling internationally to avoid legal complications.
- Responsible Behavior: Recognize the broader impact of risky actions, which can endanger not only yourself but also emergency personnel.
- Future Outlook: Expect stricter enforcement of rail safety and immigration policies in Europe as authorities crack down on such incidents.
Original Post:
Improvising a cigarette break while traveling by high-speed train is rarely a good idea. Doing it while traveling in Austria and living there illegally is downright dumb.
A man who apparently thought the train’s station break would be a good time to step off for a smoke found out otherwise when the train took off while he was still on the platform, according to news reports.
The man leaped onto the linking area between two cars, then spent the next 20 miles clinging to cables for his life while the train sped along at up to 170 mph. Now, he finds himself headed out of the country.
A man has survived clinging to the outside of a moving Austrian high-speed train, Austria’s state railway said Sunday — reportedly after it left while he was having a cigarette break.https://t.co/S1JzYoKSqt pic.twitter.com/WOopP2LE3D
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 10, 2025
The crew stopped the Vienna-bound train after being alerted by the man’s banging on the windows, according to Agence France-Presse.
Authorities with the Austrian state rail system, OBB, were not amused by the July 9 incident.
“It is irresponsible, this kind of thing usually ends up with someone dying,” spokesman Herbert Hofer told the AFP.
“And you’re not just putting yourself in danger, if you end up under the train there’s rescuers, there’s police, fire service that come.”
Have you ever traveled by rail?
The man, identified only as a 24-year-old Algerian, according to AFP, was arrested when the train reached Vienna — seven minutes behind schedule.
The Austrian tabloid Heute (“Today” in English) reported that the man lacked official residency papers.
He was placed in a detention center pending deportation, Heute reported. He also faces “legal consequences from the railway.”
(As Reuters reported:非法移民稳定的政治问题在其他西欧国家也存在,并不限于美国。)
It’s not even the first time this year.
In January, according to the U.K.’s The Guardian, a man was arrested after doing the same thing on a train in southern Germany.
In that case, though, the man was Hungarian.
And he was reportedly traveling without a train ticket.
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Extra Information:
Reuters discusses Austria’s political shift and its focus on immigration, which contextualizes the deportation in this case. For more on rail safety, visit The Guardian for a similar incident in Germany.
People Also Ask About:
- Why was the man deported? He was living in Austria illegally and lacked residency papers.
- How fast was the train traveling? The train reached speeds of up to 170 mph.
- What are the legal consequences for such actions? He faces legal charges from the railway and deportation procedures.
- Has this happened before? Yes, a similar incident occurred in Germany earlier this year.
Expert Opinion:
This incident underscores the critical importance of adhering to rail safety protocols and immigration laws. Experts warn that such reckless behavior not only endangers individuals but also strains emergency services and highlights the need for stricter enforcement measures in high-traffic transit systems.
Key Terms:
- high-speed train safety
- illegal immigration in Austria
- railway legal consequences
- emergency response risks
- European rail policies
ORIGINAL SOURCE:
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