An Austrian high-speed train journey took an unexpected turn on Saturday night when a 24-year-old Algerian man was found clinging to the exterior of the railjet service traveling from Zurich, Switzerland, to Vienna, Austria.
According to Austria’s state railway (ÖBB), the incident occurred at St. Pölten station, west of Vienna, when the man reportedly stepped off the train during a scheduled stop to smoke a cigarette. As the train began to depart, he leapt into the narrow gap between two carriages rather than re-enter through the doors.
Railways spokesman Herbert Hofer described the act as “irresponsible” and potentially fatal. “This kind of thing usually ends up with someone dying,” he warned, stressing that such actions also endanger emergency responders, including police, firefighters, and medics.
Passengers aboard noticed the man banging on windows to get attention. One eyewitness told Austrian tabloid Heute that the train’s conductor activated the emergency brakes after spotting the situation, bringing the train to a halt. The man was then escorted onboard, where the conductor gave him a stern lecture.
The railjet eventually continued to Vienna, arriving seven minutes behind schedule. Upon arrival at Vienna’s Meidling station, police led the man away for questioning. Authorities have not disclosed further details about his background, pending investigation.
The unusual event mirrors a similar case in January when a 40-year-old Hungarian man survived holding onto a German high-speed train for roughly 20 miles, also after stepping off for a cigarette. Both incidents highlight a recurring issue of passengers taking extreme risks to avoid being left behind.
Hofer urged passengers to follow safety protocols at all times and warned that trains are not forgiving environments for risky stunts. “If you fall under the train, there’s no second chance,” he said.
While the man in this latest case escaped unharmed, railway officials stressed that the outcome could have been far worse.
