Train derailment in the Swiss Alps: 5 injured, investigation underway
On Monday morning, the Swiss Alps region witnessed an unfortunate accident in which a train derailed, resulting in injuries to five people of varying severity, amid initial indications that weather conditions and avalanches played a role in the accident.
Details of the train derailment in Valais
Police in the canton of Valais, in southwestern Switzerland, announced that the accident occurred at 7:00 a.m. local time (6:00 GMT). The train derailed while traveling on the track between the towns of Gubenstein and Hohten, a rugged mountainous region known for its challenging terrain and natural beauty.
According to the official police statement, the train was carrying 29 people at the time of the accident. Rescue and ambulance teams rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the report to provide assistance to the passengers.
Injuries and evacuations
The accident resulted in injuries to five passengers. Four of them sustained minor injuries and received first aid at the scene without requiring further medical attention. The fifth injured person, a woman, was transported to the hospital for treatment, but medical sources indicated that her life was not in danger.
Initial investigations: Was the avalanche the cause?
The public prosecutor's office in the canton of Valais has opened a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances of the accident. Initial evidence suggests that nature may have been the primary factor behind the derailment. Police stated, "According to preliminary investigations, avalanches may have affected the tracks shortly before the train's passage.".
In a statement to a Swiss television station, Daniel Imboden, spokesman for the Valais cantonal police, explained: "We noticed large amounts of snow on the railways. But did this snow get there as a result of an avalanche or in some other way? That's what the investigation will have to show.".
Weather and transport challenges in the Swiss winter
This incident comes at a time when the region is experiencing unstable weather and snowfall. Last Thursday, similar avalanches buried part of a main road leading to the town of Gubenstein, disrupting traffic for hours, highlighting the challenges faced by transportation networks in mountainous areas during winter.
Switzerland: A world-class rail network
Despite this incident, the Swiss railway network remains one of the safest and most efficient in the world. The Swiss rely heavily on trains for their daily commutes.
According to statistics from the Swiss agency Keystone-ATS, the Swiss are at the top of the list of train users in Europe, with the average distance traveled by train per person reaching approximately 2,519 kilometers during 2024. The Swiss authorities are constantly working to develop safety procedures to cope with the natural challenges in the Alps to ensure that this high confidence in rail transport continues.
