Three people were killed and several others injured when a regional passenger train derailed in a wooded area in southwestern Germany on Sunday, police said.

About 100 passengers were aboard the train, when the accident occurred at around 6:10 pm (1610 GMT) near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg state.

Contacted by AFP, police initially said four people had been killed before correcting their statement to three victims. Authorities declined to elaborate on the number of injured or how seriously hurt they were.

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn confirmed several deaths and numerous injured. Two train carriages had derailed “for reasons yet unknown”, it added.

Authorities were currently investigating the circumstances of the accident, the operator said, and traffic had been suspended over a 40-kilometre (25-mile) stretch of the route.

German media reported that a landslide might have caused the accident as severe storms swept through the region, according to weather services.

The passenger train was travelling from the German town of Sigmaringen to the city of Ulm when it derailed in a forested area.

In a post on social media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences to the families of those killed.

He added that he was in close contact with both the interior and transport ministers, and had asked them to “provide the emergency services with all the support they need”.

Footage from the scene of the accident showed yellow-and-grey-coloured train carriages lying on their sides, as firefighters and emergency services tried to get to the passengers.

According to local TV station SWR, helicopters arrived shortly after the accident to transport the injured to hospitals in the area, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted.

German transport is regularly criticised by passengers for its outdated infrastructure, with travellers facing frequent train delays, and various technical problems.

The government has pledged to invest several hundred billion euros over the next few years, in particular to modernise infrastructure.

In June 2022, a train derailed near a Bavarian Alpine resort in southern Germany, killing four people and injuring dozens.

Germany’s deadliest rail accident happened in 1998 when a high-speed train operated by state-owned Deutsche Bahn derailed in Eschede in Lower Saxony, killing 101 people.

A passenger train with 100 onboard detailed near Riedlingen, Germany, on Sunday, Photo by EPA/Nonstop News.

July 27 (UPI) — A passenger train derailed in southwest Germany on Sunday night, killing at least three people and injuring 34, including three seriously, according to emergency services.

A landslide from a storm sent debris on the tracks, causing the front of the train to derail, soar 16 feet up a slope and crash into trees at 6:10 p.m. local time, Schwabisch Media reported.

The crash occurred at Riedlingen near Stuttgart in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. That is 98 miles west of Munich.

Operator Deutch Bahn said the crash was caused by “unknown reasons,” according to the BBC. The train departed Sigmaringen at 5:33 p.m. local time and was headed to Ulm.

The Regional Express 55 contained about 100 occupants when two details derailed, Germany news agency dpa reported.

“The train accident in the Biberach district is a shock to me,” German Chancellor Freidrich Merz posted on X. “I am in close contact with the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Transport and have asked them to support the rescue services with all means possible. We mourn the victims.”

Ulm emergency services aviated the Mass Incursion of Injured, a roll-off container that can treat 25 injured people. The device was initially purchased for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Deutsche Bahn is railroad controlled by the German government, and founded in 1994 after the merger of Deutsche Bundesbahn in West Germany and Deutsche Reichsbahn in East Germany. Four years earlier, Germany was reunified.

A regional passenger train derailed in southern Germany, killing at least three people and seriously injuring others on Sunday, authorities said.

Federal and local police said the cause of the crash near Riedlingen, 158 kilometres west of Munich, remains under investigation. Photos from the scene showed parts of the train on its side as rescuers climbed atop the carriages.

It was not immediately clear how many people were injured. Roughly 100 people were onboard the train when at least two carriages derailed in a forested area around 6:10 pm.

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Storms passed through the area before the crash, and investigators were seeking to determine if the rain was a factor.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a post on social platform X that he mourned the victims and gave his condolences to their families.

Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s main national railway operator, said in a statement that it was cooperating with investigators. The company also offered its condolences.

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.

A regional passenger train derailed in southern Germany on Sunday evening, killing at least three people and seriously injuring multiple others near the town of Riedlingen, according to federal and local authorities.

The incident occurred around 6:10 p.m. local time when at least two carriages of the train carrying approximately 100 passengers went off the tracks in a forested area roughly 98 miles west of Munich.

A spokesperson for Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s primary national railway operator, told Newsweek in an email response that the company is “deeply saddened” by the derailment and that rescue operations are still ongoing.

Why It Matters

This derailment represents one of Germany’s most serious rail accidents in recent months, highlighting ongoing concerns about railway safety amid increasingly severe weather patterns across Europe.

Germany’s extensive rail network carries millions of passengers annually, making safety incidents particularly significant for public confidence in mass transportation. The crash occurs as European rail operators face growing challenges from climate-related weather events that can impact track conditions and operational safety.

Rescue workers search for passengers in a derailed train in Germany on July 27. Rescue workers search for passengers in a derailed train in Germany on July 27. Thomas Warnack/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

What To Know

The derailment happened on a regional passenger service operated through Germany’s extensive rail network. Storm systems had moved through the area before the crash, prompting investigators to examine whether rainfall, high winds, or other weather-related factors may have affected track conditions or train operations.

Emergency response teams from multiple agencies converged on the accident site, working to extract passengers from the overturned carriages and provide medical assistance. The forested location of the derailment presented additional challenges for rescue operations, requiring specialized equipment to access the scene.

Deutsche Bahn immediately began cooperating with federal investigators while expressing condolences to affected families.

The company has extensive safety protocols in place. Railway safety in Germany generally maintains high standards, with comprehensive maintenance programs and regular safety inspections. However, extreme weather events have increasingly tested these systems as climate patterns intensify across the continent.

What People Are Saying

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on X on Sunday: “The train accident in the Biberach district shocks me. I am in close contact with the Interior Minister and the Transport Minister and have asked them support the rescue forces with all available means.”

He added: “We mourn the victims. I express my condolences to their relatives.”

Darlene Rohwedder, a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson, told Newsweek on Sunday: “Our thoughts and sympathy are with the injured and all the relatives of the victims. We would like to thank the emergency services for their rapid response. The rescue operation is still ongoing. The authorities are currently investigating the circumstances and are receiving full support from DB. We therefore ask for your understanding that we cannot comment on further details at this time.”

She added: “Train services on the line have been suspended. Passengers travelling between Munkerkingen, Mengen and Sigmaringen are requested to check Bahn.de or the DB Navigator and other timetable information before starting their journey.”

A carriage of the derailed regional passenger train stands on a section of track near Riedlingen, Germany, on July 27. A carriage of the derailed regional passenger train stands on a section of track near Riedlingen, Germany, on July 27. Nico Pointner/dpa via AP

What Happens Next?

Federal and local investigators will conduct a comprehensive examination of the derailment site, analyzing track conditions, weather data, train maintenance records, and operational procedures. This investigation process typically takes several weeks to months, depending on the complexity of factors involved.

The affected rail line will remain closed pending completion of the investigation and necessary repairs to damaged infrastructure. Alternative transportation arrangements are being coordinated for passengers who regularly use this route.

Update 7/27/25, 5:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 7/27/25, 5:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.