A passenger train from Trondheim to Bodø in Northern Norway derailed after being hit by a rockslide Thursday afternoon. Police confirmed Thursday night that the train’s locomotive engineer was killed and four others were injured.
The train known as Nordlandsbanen plunged down an embankment towards the main E6 highway below. Both the train line and the highway were closed as emergency personnel rushed to the scene of the accident between the towns of Bjerka and Mo i Rana.
Three of the 49 passengers on board were taken to hospital and one to a local emergency clinic, but no one was said to be seriously injured. Reception centers were set up at Mo i Rana and in Mosjøen for passengers who described a frightening situation on board as the train crashed into rocks, ran off its tracks and was hurled down the embankment, ending with some of its five railcars lying on their sides in addition to the locomotive.
“Everyone took care of one another,” passenger Gerd Jakobsen told state broadcaster NRK, who described a sudden and powerful braking, followed by a crash and then chaos on board until the train came to halt. She’d been able to quickly brace herself against the seat in front of her and avoided injury, while others were thrown from their seats. Several rang Norway’s 113 emergency number from their mobile phones while young passengers helped older ones get off the train and make their way down the steep hill to the highway below.
“Everyone had someone to hold on to,” said Jakobsen, and then they were met by medical personnel who’d arrived quickly at the scene. She said “everyone was shaken up” but “it was fantastic” how everyone helped others. State railroad BaneNor set up a crisis team and both Norway’s transport minister and accident investigators were on their way to the scene late Thursday. The train line was expected to be closed for several days.
NewsinEnglish.no staff