Schoolchildren among 52 needing hospital treatment after they were trapped on high-tech train in 50C heat

Rescued: Pupils who collapsed in 50C temperatures after air conditioning failed on a high-tech ICE train in Germany receive medical treatment in Bielefeld

Sweltering: Fifty two people needed treatment after high temperatures caused air conditioning to fail on three trains

A group of schoolchildren were among 52 people who needed medical treatment after they were trapped inside three high-tech trains in Germany in temperatures up to 50C.

The air conditioning in the three trains failed during the heatwave and around 1,000 people had to switch to another train, national rail company Deutsche Bahn said.



All three modern ICE trains - which has windows that do not open - were headed west from Berlin.

Two lost their air conditioning close to a station and could be emptied quickly, Deutsche Bahn spokesman Juergen Kornmann confirmed.

But a third heated up some distance before reaching the city of Bielefeld.

Mr Kornmann said eight people needed to be hospitalised in Bielefeld suffering from heat exhaustion and another 44 needed medical treatment.

Deutsche Bahn manager Ulrich Homburg said in a statement: 'We regret that some passengers suffered from health problems and even had to be taken to the hospital.

'We are shocked and want to apologise.'
Ninety-one rescue staff called to the station had to treat people suffering from hyperventilation, vertigo, overheating and other headaches.

Among those needing treatment were 27 children who were on their way back from a class trip to Berlin.

Hans-Dieter Muehlenberg, chief of the rescue team, confirmed to the DAPD news agency that temperatures inside the train approached 50C.

Deutsche Bahn said the air conditioning problems were caused by high temperatures outside.

Germany has gone through a severe heat wave with temperatures approaching 40C.