French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced on X on Tuesday morning that a TGV had collided with a heavy goods vehicle between Béthune and Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region.
According to the SNCF, the driver of the TGV died. 27 people were also injured in the accident, which occurred at around 7 am at a level crossing in Bully-les-Mines. Around 350 passengers were on board the train.
Tabarot said that he would visit the scene of the accident with the CEO of SNCF, former French Prime Minister Jean Castex.
According to the TER Hauts-de-France X account, “Traffic is interrupted until the end of the day between Béthune and Lens”.