A high-speed passenger train collided with a lorry at a level crossing in northern France on Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of the train driver. The incident occurred around 07:00 local time between Béthune and Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region, with the train travelling at an estimated speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). The 56-year-old train driver, a long-term employee of the state-owned rail operator SNCF, was killed in the crash.
Local authorities reported that two individuals initially considered critically injured are now "doing well," while 13 others sustained minor injuries. The lorry driver, who was transporting military equipment at the time, has been taken into police custody, but officials stated it is too early to determine the cause of the accident. An investigation into potential aggravated manslaughter is underway. The vehicle belonged to a commercial haulier, and the driver was not a military member.
Jean Castex, CEO of SNCF and a former French prime minister, addressed the media on Tuesday, expressing condolences: "My first thoughts go to his family, his loved ones and colleagues." He also praised the two train staff members who assisted passengers calmly after the collision. Castex added that there were no indications of issues with the level crossing barriers, noting that a slower train had passed through minutes earlier.
Xavier Bertrand, President of the Hauts-de-France region, described the accident as a "terrible tragedy." The regional rail network, TER Hauts-de-France, announced the suspension of direct services between Béthune and Lens until Thursday, with trains rerouted via alternative paths. Services on other lines in the area are gradually resuming but experiencing significant delays.
The rail union SUD-Rail has called for "total transparency" in the investigation into the incident. This collision follows another fatal accident less than two weeks prior in the Var region of southeastern France, where a person died after a regional train hit a truck. While level crossing collisions in France are relatively rare, they are much more common than in the UK: official figures show 89 incidents recorded in France in 2024, causing 20 deaths, compared to just six in the UK.
Source: www.bbc.com