At least three people have died and several others sustained injuries following the derailment of a passenger train in southwestern Germany on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
The accident occurred around 6:10 p.m. local time near the town of Riedlingen, close to Stuttgart. Reports indicate that two carriages of the train, which was carrying around 100 passengers, veered off the tracks in a forested area along the 90-kilometre route between Sigmaringen and Ulm.
A spokesperson from the Federal Police Inspectorate in Stuttgart confirmed the casualties but noted that details surrounding the incident remain unclear. National rail operator Deutsche Bahn also stated that the cause of the derailment is still under investigation, although a storm had reportedly swept through the region shortly before the crash.
“The exact situation is still unclear at this time,” Deutsche Bahn said in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter). “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and everyone affected by this tragic incident.”
Photographs from the scene show the derailed carriages lying on their sides amid fallen trees, as emergency personnel, including fire, medical, and police teams, worked through the wreckage to assist survivors.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences via X, saying, “The train accident in the Biberach district has deeply saddened me. I am in contact with the Ministers of the Interior and Transport and have requested maximum support for the rescue operations. We mourn the victims, and my heartfelt sympathies go to their families.”
Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the derailment.
