Newswire

Round-up of overseas rail accidents and incidents between January 2025 and April 2025.

7 January – Bangladesh: Seven killed when train strikes bus in Gerda

The Madhumati Express struck a microbus at Gerda. The impact caused the bus to fall into a nearby ditch. Its cylinder exploded, killing three people. The injured were taken to hospital, where two more died. The station manager at Faridpur confirmed that there is no authorised level crossing at Gerda.

11 January – France: Trams collide in Strasbourg, injuring 68

Two trams collided in Strasbourg’s central station, injuring 68 people. Reports said that one tram, which had been stopped, moved backwards down a slope for unknown reasons. It then collided with another tram, which was stationary. An eyewitness said they saw one of the trams reversing at speed. An investigation has been launched.

15 January – Bulgaria: Fatal freight train collision near Lokorsko

At around 15.48 (local time), two freight trains were involved in a head-on collision Kremikovtsi and Svetovrachene, near Lokorsko. Two people were killed and six more were injured. One of the locomotives caught fire. The impact also caused a partial derailment. Five fire-fighting teams, four ambulances and the police attended the scene.

22 January – India: Thirteen killed after self-evacuating in Maharashtra

Thirteen people were killed and five were injured after they fled a rumoured a fire on board the PushPak Express in Maharashtra. They were struck by the Bengaluru Express on the adjacent line. Railway staff said the passengers self-evacuated after someone had pulled the emergency cord, causing the Mumbai-bound service to stop.

30 January – USA: Freight train derails in Chatham

At around 02.30 (local time), a CSX freight train derailed in Chatham, New York. There were no reported injuries. A flat wagon was found to have come off the rails. A minor fire was also reported at a set of points, which was quickly extinguished. An investigation has been launched.

4 February – India: Freight trains in rear-end collision near Rusalabad injures two

At around 04.30 (local time), two freight trains collided near Rusalabad, in Fatehpur. Two members of train crew were reported injured. Early reports suggest that one train was struck in rear by the other as it waited at a red signal. An investigation has been launched.

7 February – USA: Passenger train catches fire in Ridley Park

During the early evening, a regional passenger train caught fire in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. All 350 passengers were evacuated. There were no reported injuries. Early reports say the fire started in the leading carriage of the six-car train. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation.

11 February – Germany: One killed and 12 injured when ICE strikes lorry on crossing near Hamburg

A passenger train struck a lorry at a level crossing near Hamburg. One passenger was killed and 26 were injured. The lorry driver was taken for questioning by police. Early reports suggest the vehicle had become trapped on the crossing when the barriers closed.

15 February – India: Stampede at New Delhi station kills at least 15

At least 15 people died and another 15 were injured in a stampede at New Delhi station. The incident occurred on two platforms as passengers waited to board trains to Prayagraj, where a festival was being hosted. The media showed videos of huge crowds as staff worked to ease the congestion.

19 February – Romania: Freight train derails, strikes another, kills guard near Mihăești

At around 10.45 (local time), two freight trains collided between Mihăești and Radomirești, in southern Romania. The guard of one of the trains was killed. On train, travelling on the Roșiori-Caracal route derailed and fouled the adjacent line, where it struck the other train. An investigation has been launched.

24 February – USA: Coal train derails in Custer County

At around 23.00 (local time), a Burlington Northern Santa Fe coal train derailed near in Custer County, Montana. Twenty-five wagons were involved. There were no reported injuries. An investigation has been launched.

28 February – Czech Republic: Chemical train derails and catches fire in Hustopeče nad Bečvou

A freight train carrying benzene derailed, causing a massive fire in Hustopeče nad Bečvou. There were no reported injuries. Several tank wagons and a locomotive were ablaze, with firefighters from several regions and a mobile chemical laboratory deployed to the area. An investigation has been launched.

7 March – France: Anglo-French services delayed as WWII bomb found near line in Paris

Services were cancelled after an unexploded World War II bomb was found on the line in the Saint-Denis area of Paris. Four trains from London to Paris and the first six from Paris to London were cancelled. The disruption also impacted local metros, national and international services.

1 April – India: Freight train collision in Jharkhland kills both drivers

A freight train struck a stationary formation, both operated by the National Thermal Power Corporation, near Sahibganj, in Jharkhland. The two drivers were killed and four other staff members were injured. A fire also ignited in the moving (coal-laden) train. An investigation has been launched.

19 March – India: Container train derails at Kamalapur

At 11.30 (local time), a container train derailed at Kamalapur station. There were no reported injuries, but significant delays were caused to traffic, with services completely suspended before one of the lines was cleared, reopening at 13.10. The other line followed at around 14.00. An investigation has been launched.

12 March – USA: Fatal level crossing collision in South Carolina

An Amtrak service struck a road vehicle at a level crossing in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Rescue managed to free the 15-year-old passenger in the road vehicle, but its driver died at the scene. Footage revealed that the road vehicle driver had driven round the barriers as the train approached.