At least 18 people were injured, five critically, after two trains collided head-on in Denmark on Thursday morning. The crash occurred at a level crossing at Isterødvejen, near Hillerød, about 19 miles north-west of Copenhagen, with emergency services receiving reports just before 6.30am.
Photographs from the scene showed the two trains head-to-head, one substantially crushed at the front. North Zealand police confirmed technical investigations were under way, but would not comment on the nature of the collision. The trains had been travelling fast, though exact speeds were not yet known.
Denmark's acting prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said she was "very moved by the terrible train accident on the Gribskov line this morning". She added on TV2: "Several people are in a critical condition. My thoughts go out to the injured, their relatives and everyone affected by the accident." The Swedish prime minister offered help, but Danish police declined.
All 37 passengers were removed from the trains, with a military helicopter assisting in flying patients to hospital. The Copenhagen region's chief physician, Anders Heimdal, said there were "a lot of different injuries", describing "people being thrown around". Fire and rescue service leader Christoffer Buhl Martekilde reported broken glass flying everywhere after the head-on collision.
Inspector Morten Pedersen said it was "far too early" to determine if signal errors caused the crash. Denmark's accident investigation board is collecting evidence, looking into technical issues with signalling and rails, as well as possible "human factors". Claus René Pedersson, safety director at operator Lokaltog, said the single-track line should not have allowed such a collision, adding: "We now have to find out how on earth it can happen."
