According to authorities, the train’s driver was killed and at least 50 passengers were injured, with 25 in critical condition.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening in a wooded area near Riedlingen, a town in southwestern Baden-Wurttemberg state, approximately 158km (98 miles) west of Munich.
Charlotte Ziller, the district fire chief, informed the press that among the victims were the train driver and a Deutsche Bahn employee.
She added that 50 individuals were injured, 25 of whom sustained severe injuries.
Deutsche Bahn confirmed several deaths and numerous injuries, stating that two train carriages derailed for reasons yet to be determined.
Investigators are looking into the circumstances of the accident, and traffic has been halted along a 40km (25-mile) section of the track.
Thomas Strobl, the interior minister of Baden-Wurttemberg, noted that severe storms had affected the area earlier, suggesting that heavy rains and potential landslides might have contributed to the crash.
“Due to heavy rains, it’s possible that heavy rain and a related landslide accident could be the cause,” he stated. “However, this is under ongoing investigation.”
The train was en route from Sigmaringen to Ulm when it derailed.
In a social media post, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.
He further stated he was in close communication with the interior and transport ministers, and has asked them to provide all necessary support to emergency services.
Footage from the scene showed yellow and grey train carriages lying on their sides, with firefighters and emergency services attending to the passengers.
According to local television channel SWR, helicopters arrived shortly after the incident to transport the injured to local hospitals, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted.
Richard Lutz, the CEO of Deutsche Bahn, planned to visit the accident site on Monday.
He expressed the operator’s deep shock and distress over the incident and thanked all emergency services and volunteers present.
“My heartfelt sympathy and condolences go out to the families of the deceased. I wish the injured a swift and full recovery,” he added.
Deutsche Bahn has established a free special hotline for those affected and their relatives, according to the official DPA news agency. Emergency chaplains and psychologists are also available for affected travelers and employees.
German transport systems are often critiqued by passengers for their outdated infrastructure, leading to frequent train delays and technical issues.
The government has pledged to invest several hundred billion euros in the coming years, particularly to modernize infrastructure.
In June 2022, a similar incident occurred near a Bavarian Alpine resort, resulting in four fatalities and numerous injuries.
Germany’s most severe rail accident took place in 1998, when a high-speed train operated by Deutsche Bahn derailed in Eschede, Lower Saxony, claiming 101 lives.
Despite these incidents, traveling by train in Germany remains significantly safer than traveling by car, with 2,770 road crash fatalities reported in Germany in 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
