A railway accident occurred in France, when a passenger train collided with a heavy military convoy vehicle carrying French army equipment at a level crossing. The incident took place in the morning in northern France, near the town of Nœux-les-Mines, in the Pas-de-Calais region.
According to initial reports, the incident occurred shortly after 07:00 local time on the line connecting Béthune to Lens, with Le Parisien newspaper reporting at least one death and several injuries. French authorities are describing it as an accident at a guarded crossing, though the exact causes of the collision have not been fully clarified.
250 passengers on train – Driver killed
The high-speed train was carrying approximately 250 people. The driver is reported dead, having been trapped in his cabin following the collision.
Railway traffic between Béthune and Lens has been suspended at least until the end of the day, while significant delays and cancellations are being recorded on other regional lines, including the Lille–Béthune, Lille–Lens, and Lille–Douai connections.
As announced by French Railways (SNCF), power to the network was cut for safety reasons following the accident, worsening the transportation situation.
ALERTE – Le conducteur d’un TGV est mort et 27 passagers blessés dans une collision avec un poids lourd à un passage à niveau de Noeux-les-Mines, dans le Pas-de-Calais (TF1 / Horizon Actu). pic.twitter.com/rTF9xPJjKB
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) April 7, 2026
French transport minister heads to scene – Exact causes of collision still unknown
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced he is traveling to the accident site accompanied by SNCF CEO Jean Castex to assess the situation firsthand.
The circumstances under which the collision occurred remain under investigation. Authorities are examining the possibility of human error or technical failure, with official announcements expected in the coming hours.
The incident has caused significant concern, as it represents one of the most serious crossing accidents in the region in recent times.
