Cologne, Germany - A driverless runaway train carrying 1,500 tons of briquets and coal dust sped 5 kilometres through the German city of Cologne Tuesday before impacting itself in a warehouse.

Three warehouse workers were shocked but escaped injury in the sudden shambles.

The drivers, 44 and 20, of the yellow diesel engine had earlier bailed out after its brakes failed.

The train, owned by RWE Power and carrying fuel from barges to a coal-fired power station, punched its way through the sheet-metal door of the warehouse and was stopped by an interior stone wall. (dpa)