Passenger train derails in France, leaving 44 injured, 1 critical
By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters. Published On 12 Sep 202612 Sep 2026.
By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and Reuters. Published On 12 Sep 202612 Sep 2026.
Article outline
- What happened
- The details
- The key numbers
- The bottom line
Key points
- Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois remarked 44 residents were injured, including an 18-year-old woman who was evacuated in "critical condition".
- Local authorities remarked they had activated a mass-casualty response plan, deploying 130 firefighters, five medical teams and 80 vehicles to the scene.
- According to the prefecture of Seine-Maritime, the young woman was evacuated by helicopter to Rouen University Hospital.
- One passenger, Louis, 24, informed local radio ICI Normandie: "Suddenly there were a few jolts, and then after about three seconds it got stronger and stronger."
- A passenger train derailed in northwestern France on Friday, injuring 44 individuals, one critically, local authorities stated.
Meanwhile, a passenger train derailed in northwestern France on Friday, injuring 44 individuals, one critically, local authorities stated.
Notably, the train, which was carrying 186 passengers, was travelling on Friday between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen when it derailed at regarding 7: 45pm (17: 45 GMT), French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated on X.
He continued, "I couldn't stay in my seat any more. The windows partially shattered, the stones from the track came into the carriage. It was really shocking. I'm still shaking."
SNCF Reseau, which manages France's rail network, remarked traffic on the line had been suspended and power to the tracks was cut to allow emergency services to operate.
"The priority is to care for the passengers and then to restore safe operating conditions, " the firm stated.
Gallois remarked tests for drugs and alcohol on the train driver had come back negative. Rail authorities and police are investigating the cause of the derailment.
In short, passenger train derails in France, leaving 44 injured, 1 critical is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.
