French Passenger Train Derails in Normandy Leaving 44 Injured

A passenger train carrying 186 people derailed in northwestern France on Friday evening, injuring 44 passengers. One 18-year-old woman suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a regional hospital for emergency treatment. French emergency services and rail authorities dispatched teams to the site while investigators launched an inquiry into the crash.

The derailment occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. local time (17:45 GMT) on September 11, 2026. The train was traveling on a regional route between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen when it left the tracks, according to French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.

A 24-year-old passenger named Louis described experiencing sudden jolts that rapidly increased in strength over a three-second span. He noted that he ‘could not stay in my seat any more’ as windows partially shattered and ballast stones from the railbed entered the train carriage.

Emergency Response and Victims

Following the incident, local authorities in the Seine-Maritime department activated a mass-casualty emergency plan. The response involved 130 firefighters, five specialized medical teams, and 80 emergency vehicles sent to render aid.

Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois confirmed that 44 people sustained injuries in the derailment. He specified that the most severely hurt passenger, an 18-year-old woman, was evacuated in critical condition via helicopter to Rouen University Hospital.

Traffic Suspended and Investigation Underway

SNCF Reseau, the agency that manages the national rail network, halted all train traffic along the line and shut off electrical power to the tracks to allow rescue teams to safely access the scene. The operator stated that ‘the priority is to care for the passengers’ before working to restore safe rail conditions.

Police and railway authorities have opened an investigation to determine what caused the train to derail. Prosecutor Gallois stated that routine toxicological testing was conducted on the train driver following the crash, and the results for both alcohol and drugs were negative.

Background

SNCF Reseau is the state-owned company responsible for maintaining and managing France’s national railway infrastructure. French departmental prefectures maintain standardized mass-casualty protocols, known locally as emergency plans, to streamline the joint deployment of fire services, paramedic units, and hospital transport during major transport accidents.