11.   German railway spokesman Uwe Herz said the warning strikes had poisoned the atmosphere just as the railway was presenting a new offer at contract talks, which resumed Monday.

12.   German national railway officials said the oncoming train was traveling at a moderate speed and that neither train derailed.

13.   German railway spokesman Reiner Latsch said the construction company had a contract to work on the line, but had not cleared with anyone before getting on the track.

14.   German railway officials met with union leaders Wednesday to discuss employee concerns over rail safety following a series of accidents and mishaps.

15.   German railway spokesman Hans-George Kusznir said repair work had been completed, and that police had sealed off the area, preventing anyone from approaching the bridge.

16.   It was the worst accident in the history of the German railway.

17.   One of the cars flipped onto its side, German railways spokesman Manfred Ziegerath said.

18.   Security has remained tight on the German railway since the arrest in December of a would-be extortionist who confessed to three acts of sabotage.

19.   The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear, but German railway spokesman Burkhard Ahlert ruled out sabotage.

20.   The German railway said Wednesday that saboteurs caused a delay in opening a new high-speed train line from Berlin to Hanover.