A high-speed TGV train collided with a truck transporting military equipment early Tuesday morning around 7:00 a.m. in the northern French city of Bully-les-Mines. A large contingent of emergency services and technical crews were quickly dispatched to the scene.

The train driver was killed, and of the 243 passengers on board, two were seriously injured while 11 sustained minor injuries. The truck driver was taken into custody. The train was en route from Dunkirk to Paris at the time of the crash.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated he would travel to the scene, where he will be joined by SNCF national rail chief Jean Castex. SNCF officials said it is too early to determine the exact cause, adding that rail service along the line had been suspended until later in the day.

This incident marks the second such crash within days. On March 25, a truck driver was killed in a collision with a train at a street-level crossing in the southeastern town of Saint-Raphaël. France's TGV trains have been renowned for their safety since the first generation was introduced in 1981.

Officials noted the train was traveling at normal speed during the collision. An investigation into the causes is ongoing, with rail service expected to resume by the end of the day.

Source: www.dw.com