Passenger train derails in northern France, injuring 44 people

Sat Sep 12 2026 01:38:46 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A passenger train derailed near Cléon, Normandy, leaving at least 44 injured and prompting an emergency response.

A night‑time derailment of a passenger train between Rouen and Caen left at least 44 people injured, one critically. The train, carrying 180 passengers, overturned three carriages near the commune of Cléon, just south of Rouen. 140 firefighters and emergency teams responded, while the French Transport Minister confirmed a mass‑casualty plan was activated. The cause of the derailment remains unclear, and SNCF says services are disrupted, with replacement buses offered. Authorities sealed the area and advised the public to stay away.

Passenger train derails in northern France, injuring 44 people

A night‑time derailment of a passenger train between Rouen and Caen hurt at least 44 passengers, including a woman who was air‑lifted to hospital in critical condition.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed that 180 people were aboard the train that left Rouen for Caen. The derailment occurred near the commune of Cléon, just south of the city.

An emergency operation was launched when local authorities activated a mass‑casualty response plan before 20:00 local time. Some 140 firefighters and other rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.

Three carriages were reported to have overturned, according to photographs circulated later by French media. The cause of the derailment has not yet been identified.

The state‑owned railway operator SNCF said it would replace disrupted services with buses in the affected area. Authorities advised people to keep away from the crash site for safety reasons.