Three people have been killed and several others injured after a regional passenger train derailed in southwestern Germany on Sunday evening. The accident occurred near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Württemberg state at around 6:10 pm local time, according to police.
The train, carrying approximately 100 passengers, was travelling from Sigmaringen to Ulm when it derailed in a wooded area. German rail operator Deutsche Bahn confirmed that two carriages left the tracks for reasons yet unknown, with authorities currently investigating the circumstances.
Police initially reported four fatalities but later corrected the figure to three. Authorities declined to provide further details on the number of injured or the severity of their injuries. Emergency services, including helicopters and doctors from nearby hospitals, were dispatched to the scene to transport the injured.
German media have suggested that a landslide may have caused the derailment, as severe storms swept through the region. Traffic has been suspended over a 40-kilometre stretch of the route. Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed condolences to the victims' families and stated he was in contact with interior and transport ministers to ensure full support for emergency services.
Germany's transport infrastructure has faced criticism for outdated systems, with the government pledging billions of euros in investment. The accident echoes a 2022 derailment in Bavaria that killed four, and the country's deadliest rail disaster in 1998, which claimed 101 lives.
