China’s deadliest train accident in a decade: 11 workers killed as test train hits maintenance crew in Yunnan
PTC Web Desk: At least 11 railway maintenance workers lost their lives and two others were injured on Thursday when a test train struck a team working on the tracks in southwestern China, according to state media outlet Xinhua. Authorities have described it as the most fatal train-related incident in the country in more than 10 years.
The tragedy took place near Kunming’s Luoyangzhen (Luoyang Town) station in Yunnan Province, where a test train, conducting checks related to earthquake detection systems, hit the crew on a curved section of the track. The impact killed several workers instantly and left others injured, prompting officials to launch a full investigation into how the accident occurred.
Despite the horrific crash, operations at the Yunnan station resumed shortly afterward, Xinhua reported.
In a separate incident the same day, two more maintenance workers were killed in Deyang, Sichuan Province, after being hit by a passing train, according to a report cited by Reuters via Jimu News.
China has built the world’s largest railway system, covering over 160,000 km and transporting billions of passengers each year. While the network is known for its speed and efficiency, it has also witnessed several serious accidents over the years.
Notable past tragedies include the 2011 Wenzhou train crash in Zhejiang, which caused 40 deaths and left more than 200 injured, and a 2021 accident on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang line in Gansu, where nine workers died after a train collided with a maintenance crew.
- With inputs from agencies
