Five critical after two trains collide head-on in Northern Denmark

Five people are in critical condition and 12 others have sustained minor injuries after two trains collided head-on Thursday morning in North Zealand, northeast of Copenhagen, authorities have confirmed.

The crash occurred at 06:29 local time on a line connecting the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup, with a total of 38 passengers on board across both trains at the time of impact. Emergency responders were alerted immediately, with fire and rescue teams dispatched to the scene in a wooded area where the two trains came to rest facing each other, both bearing visible damage to their fronts.

Tim Ole Simonsen of the Greater Copenhagen fire department confirmed that all injured passengers had been transported to hospital, either by air or ambulance, though he stopped short of offering any explanation for what triggered the collision. Those with critical injuries were airlifted to the National Hospital in Copenhagen.

Gribskov municipality mayor Trine Egetved described the incident as deeply unsettling, noting the line’s significance to the local community. “The local track is used by many Gribskov residents, workers and students,” she wrote on Facebook. Speaking to public broadcaster DR, she added that it was shocking that two trains could collide head-on “and we must ensure it never happens again.”

Denmark’s Accident Investigation Board arrived at the scene during the morning and is working alongside North Zealand police to establish the cause. Inspector Morten Pedersen told reporters it was far too early to draw any conclusions.

Rail accidents are uncommon in Denmark, and one expert has suggested the possibility that a train driver may have bypassed a stop signal after departing a local station, inadvertently placing the train on the wrong line. The Gribskov line is not believed to have an automated safety system in place, a detail that is likely to draw scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.

Source: BBC