Derailment in Normandy

[whole diary]

[stuving]

Yesterday evening a TER from Rouen to Caen derailed at Cléon, just south of Rouen. Fortunately there were no deaths, but one of the many injuries was serious. This is from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Passenger train derails in France leaving at least 44 injured

French police have sealed the crash area near the commune of Cléon
By Jaroslav Lukiv    11 September 2026

At least 44 people have been injured, including one seriously, after a passenger train derailed in northern France, local officials have said.

An 18-year-old woman was airlifted in critical condition by helicopter to hospital.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said 180 passengers were on board the train that was operating between Rouen and Caen in Normandy.

He added that 140 firefighters and other emergency teams were being deployed to the scene of the crash on Friday evening near the commune of Cléon, just south of Rouen.

The cause of the derailment was not immediately known.

The local authorities activated a mass-casualty response plan after the crash shortly before 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

Photographs later emerged showing passengers leaving the crashed train, with French media reporting that three carriages overturned.

France's state-owned railway operator SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) reported "significant disruptions" on its routes in the area. It said replacement buses would be provided.

The authorities advised the public to avoid the area.

TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) pictures show two units (3- or 4- car) derailed, with the leading coach on its side in the woods beside the track.

Later SNCF stated that they had recovered a length of rail from the scene, within a built-up area. They believe that this was the cause and was put there in an act of vandalism (or worse).

[stuving]

This picture (credits Guillaume Saligot/AFP) shows, I think, the middle car of the leading unit. The rear car is hidden behind it, and the second unit is seen pushed off the track behind it. The leading car was torn off, presumably because its leading end was pushed off line and mat a lot of resistance, taking the shared Jocobs bogie with it.
[Image from here is not available to guests]

[stuving]

TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) news have now been allowed in to get close up pictures, and as you might expect that leading coach was really wrecked by its hurtling into the trees at 140 km/hr. That no-one was killed is almost a surprise. Investigation has, as you'd expect, been concentrating on that 5m length of rail found lying on the sleepers, and how it got on the track. It was near a level crossing on a small access road, which may be relevant.

But apparently that's the first fact to pin down - was it on the track? The driver reported seeing something, but not clearly, and he was badly shaken up just after - though again rather miraculously, with only a cracked rib. The obvious place to look is the recorded video from the camera looking forwards, but nothing is being said about that. So I'm wondering if this is another fairly-new French train with no forward-facing TV camera. The two units do appear to be three-car X76500 AGC, DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) built from 2004 on.

[broadgage]

Many reports elsewhere, speculate that a redundant length of rail was placed deliberately, presumably by russian sponsored persons.

[grahame]

Later SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) stated that they had recovered a length of rail from the scene, within a built-up area. They believe that this was the cause and was put there in an act of vandalism (or worse).

Many reports elsewhere, speculate that a redundant length of rail was placed deliberately, presumably by russian sponsored persons.

I find it very interesting that both officially and unofficially we are seeing early suggestions as to the cause - very different to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).   Except, perhaps, where there's a potentially criminal act involved?

I am trying to place "just south of Rouen" - was it on the main line to Paris, or after the junction at which the more minor line to Caen turns off?   Either way, neither is a flagship TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse) line.  No analysis from me - just a few more details for readers who may not have travelled through Rouen.

[stuving]

This was a train to Caen, so it had turned off the Paris line, onto one which runs into a long peninsula formed by a loop in the Seine. The line here is electrified, but later where it cuts off a corner in the main lines it isn't, hence the use of DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit).

I think the geopolitical linkage with the Renault Ampère works is fanciful, but it's true that a couple of skinny 13-year olds would find that weight hard to lift. France has plenty of groups of potential amateur saboteurs all of its own, quite apart from bigger, stronger, or more numerous gangs of teenagers.

[Bob_Blakey]

Since even SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) have said the accident was caused by the train hitting a length of rail perhaps this unfortunate incident will prompt Network Rail to clean up the linear scrap yard otherwise known as the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail network.

[stuving]

Clearing and repairing the track is going to take over a week. The first stage is removing the two damaged - or in one case wrecked - DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit). SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways) are using the same method as NR^» (Network Rail - home page) did at Lewes - the two-Kirow ballet. While the five vehicles on the track are being moved, a lot of trees have to be felled so the two jibs can be slewed far enough to reach the other vehicle.