French investigators suspect sabotage was behind a train derailment in Normandy that injured 44 people, after a fragment of rail was discovered on the tracks. One passenger, an 18-year-old woman, was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
The Rouen-Caen regional train, carrying 186 passengers, derailed around 7:45 p.m. Friday near the commune of Cleon. Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois said a fragment of rail found on the track has made the possibility of a deliberate act the main line of inquiry, though he cautioned that the reasons for the fragment’s presence remain unknown and still need to be determined.
What Happened
The derailment triggered a large emergency response, with 130 firefighters, five medical teams and 80 vehicles dispatched to the scene, according to regional authorities. Of the 44 people injured, one, an 18-year-old woman, sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in what officials described as a state of maximum urgency; the remaining 43 suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. Investigators tested the train driver for drugs and alcohol; both tests came back negative, according to Gallois.
SNCF, France’s national rail operator, said the accident caused major disruptions to rail traffic between Rouen and Caen and between Caen and Le Havre in both directions. The company said Saturday that services had resumed, though a replacement bus service remains in place on the Rouen-Caen line, which normally runs 10 return services a day on weekdays and six on weekends.
Latest Developments
The derailed train will remain on the line until the public prosecutor authorizes its removal, with the investigation into the cause still ongoing as of Saturday. SNCF said it would offer full cooperation and complete transparency to investigators as the inquiry continues.
Key Facts
- The Rouen-Caen train derailed around 7:45 p.m. Friday near Cleon in Normandy, carrying 186 passengers.
- Forty-four people were injured, including one 18-year-old woman airlifted in critical condition.
- A fragment of rail found on the track has made sabotage the main line of inquiry, according to the Rouen prosecutor.
- The train driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
- SNCF has restored rail services, with a replacement bus service running on the affected Rouen-Caen line.
Reactions
SNCF said in a statement that it would fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Authorities have not identified a suspect or motive, and the Rouen prosecutor’s office has not said when the investigation is expected to conclude.
Background
France’s rail network has faced previous incidents involving suspected sabotage, including a coordinated attack on high-speed rail lines that disrupted travel just before the 2024 Paris Olympics opened, for which no perpetrator was ever publicly identified. French investigators have not indicated whether Friday’s derailment is connected to any broader pattern or threat.
Why It Matters
If confirmed as a deliberate act, the derailment would mark a serious security breach on France’s rail network, raising questions about the vulnerability of rail infrastructure to sabotage more than a year after the Olympic-period attacks. The severity of the youngest victim’s injuries also underscores the human cost of the incident regardless of its eventual cause.
What Happens Next
Investigators are continuing to examine the rail fragment and the broader circumstances of the derailment, and the train itself will remain in place until the prosecutor permits its removal. It remains unclear when authorities expect to determine definitively whether the derailment was caused by sabotage or another factor.
Sources: France 24, Yahoo News (AFP), RTE, TRT World.
