Eckwersheim derailment

train crash in Alsace, France on 14 November 2015

On 14 November 2015, a TGV train derailed in Eckwersheim, Alsace, France, while being tested on the second phase of the LGV Est high-speed rail line, which was scheduled to open for commercial service five months later. The derailment resulted in 11 deaths and 42 injuries. It was the first fatal derailment in the history of the TGV and the third derailment since the TGV entered commercial service in 1981.[4][5]

Eckwersheim derailment
Rear power car of derailed train
Eckwersheim derailment is located in France
Eckwersheim derailment
Details
Date14 November 2015 (2015-11-14)
15:05 (CET)
LocationEckwersheim, Bas-Rhin
Coordinates48°41′25″N 7°42′19″E / 48.6902°N 7.7053°E / 48.6902; 7.7053
CountryFrance
LineLGV Est phase 2
OperatorSNCF
Incident typeDerailment
CauseHigh speed on a curve because of late braking
Statistics
Trains1
Passengers4[a]
Crew49
Deaths11[2]
Injured42, including 22 seriously injured[3]

References

change
  1. Four minors, ages 10–15, aboard the train were not authorized by SNCF but are counted as "passengers".[1]
  1. "Onze morts à Eckwersheim, premiers éléments d'enquête". L'Alsace.fr (in French). 15 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. "France TGV crash: Children on board derailed train". BBC News. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  3. BEATT (5 February 2016). "Note d'étape sur le déraillement de la rame d'essai de la LGV Est-Européenne survenu le 14 novembre 2015 à Eckwersheim" (PDF).
  4. "French TGV high-speed train derails near Strasbourg". BBC News. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  5. Bach, Christian; Poivret, Aurélien (14 November 2015). "Accident de la rame d'essai de TGV : 10 morts, douze blessés dans un état grave, cinq personnes recherchées, numéro vert mis en place". Les Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace (in French).