Avalanche causes train to derail in Swiss Alps

[AndrewE]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/ukne...he-causes-train-to-derail-in-alps/ar-AA1WrbBG has

Five people have been injured after a train derailed in Switzerland following an avalanche near the Swiss Alps, police have said.

One person was taken to hospital and four others were treated at the scene after emergency services evacuated 29 passengers trapped near Goppenstein, in the Valais region, this morning.
Valais police said an avalanche may have crossed the tracks shortly before the train passed through at around 7am, as they launched an investigation into the cause.

Eight mountain rescuers, two ambulances and a helicopter were involved in efforts to free the people on board this morning, they said.

The train departed the town of Spiez, on the shores of Lake Thun, at 6:12am. The line is expected to be closed until at least 4am on Tuesday (3am GMT)

 

[Bodiam]

BLS regional train apparently.

 

[MisterM]

There are some photos on various online sources of the BLS train and the snow it presumably collided with

 

[30907]

There are some photos on various online sources of the BLS train and the snow it presumably collided with

The existence of an avalanche shelter is a reminder of how vulnerable that route is.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

BLS now saying that line from Goppenstein to Brig will reopen early on Friday morning. Direct Rail Replacement buses until then; smaller stations will be served by existing service bus routes (ie. much longer journeys).

 

[bahnause]

It is advisable to check the current traffic situation before travelling in the Alpine region. Various rail and road connections are currently closed due to avalanches or a high risk of avalanches. Some sections of railways and roads are also temporarily closed, so that artificial avalanches can be triggered in these areas.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Feb 2026 ==

A train operated by the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway was caught in a powder avalanche near Randa this afternoon. There is a video of this incident from inside the affected train, but unfortunately it is only available on a news website:

https://www.20min.ch/video/staublaw...randa-zug-der-matterhorn-randa-bahn-103508053

Shortly before Randa VS, a dust avalanche hit a train on the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway on Tuesday morning. News scout Andrea (43) filmed the incident. She was on her way to Zermatt for a skiing holiday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Feb 2026 ==

The avalanche risk has now reduced enough for rescue operations to begin on the train involved in the accident. Trains between Bern, Kandersteg, Goppenstein, and Brig will resume running according to schedule from 5:30 a.m. monday. The line will then be open to single-track traffic. Trains will also resume running between Brig and Hohtenn from Saturday.