A passenger train was derailed early Monday morning after being struck by an avalanche near the Swiss village of Goppenstein in the canton of Valais, southwest Switzerland. Police said the incident likely resulted in injuries, though the full extent remains unclear as rescue operations continue.The derailment occurred at around 7:00 AM local time. Authorities in Valais confirmed on social media platform X that emergency services were deployed immediately.
@PoliceValais/X/Twitter
According to Swiss Federal Railways, the accident was triggered by an avalanche that hit the train along the RE1 line, which runs between Bern and Brig. Regional rail operator BLS said the incident took place in the Stockgraben Tunnel between Goppenstein and Hohtenn, beyond the Lötschberg Tunnel, a key rail corridor through the Alps, as per swissinfo.ch. The affected service was a RegioExpress train that had departed Spiez at approximately 6:12 AM and was heading south toward Brig when the avalanche struck. BLS reported that around 30 passengers were on board at the time of the derailment. Emergency response teams, including ambulances and helicopters, were dispatched to the scene to assist passengers and assess potential injuries. By mid-morning, dozens of passengers had been evacuated from the train carriages. Authorities have not released confirmed numbers of those injured, and investigations are ongoing. Train services between Goppenstein and Brig have been suspended, with disruptions expected to last at least until late afternoon. Delays and cancellations are expected on the affected routes, rail officials said. The Valais region has seen new snowfall and strong winds in the past few days, leading to heavy snow drifts. As the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF explains, in such conditions, the risk of avalanches is high. They can be easily triggered or occur spontaneously. The Goppenstein area is famous for its avalanches during the winter season. The region’s topography, with high alpine slopes and high snowfall, makes it susceptible to avalanches. Before the accident, high avalanche warnings had been issued in the Swiss Alps. According to reports, rescue efforts will continue throughout the day as the teams make sure that all passengers are safely evacuated and assess the effects of the derailment. Further updates will be provided once the authorities complete their safety checks and gather more information about the incident.
