Head-On Train Collision in Denmark Leaves Five Fighting for Their Lives
Investigators probe signalling failure or human error as Denmark reels from one of its worst railway accidents in recent years.
- Five people were critically injured and 13 others sustained minor injuries after two trains collided head-on near Copenhagen
- Authorities have launched an investigation, focusing on possible signalling system failure or human error as the cause of the crash
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and local officials have described the incident as shocking,
A devastating head-on collision between two trains in Denmark has left five people critically injured and 13 others with minor injuries after the crash occurred on a railway crossing northwest of Copenhagen early Thursday morning.
The trains, carrying a total of 37 passengers, were travelling along the route connecting Hillerød and Kagerup in North Zealand when they slammed into each other at about 06:29 local time.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene immediately, with all injured passengers airlifted or transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals. Officials confirmed that those in critical condition were flown to Copenhagen’s National Hospital for urgent treatment.
Greater Copenhagen fire department official Tim Ole Simonsen said the exact cause of the collision remains unknown, while investigators have launched a full-scale probe into the incident.
Gribskov Mayor Trine Egetved described the accident as deeply disturbing, noting that the railway line is heavily used by residents, workers, and students in the area.
“It is shocking that two trains can collide head-on, and we must ensure it never happens again,” she said.
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, also expressed concern, calling it a “terrible train accident” and saying she was closely following developments.
The country’s Accident Investigation Board has joined police at the scene to determine what went wrong. Investigators say they are considering every possible cause, including signalling system failure or human error.
Klaus Jensen, head of the board’s railway unit, said all possibilities remain under review, while Lokaltog safety director Claus Pedersson called the crash “one of the worst we can imagine in the railway industry.”
He added that early reports suggest one train driver applied emergency brakes and assisted passengers during the evacuation.
Rail accidents are uncommon in Denmark, and experts believe one possible cause could be a train mistakenly entering the wrong track after passing a stop signal. The Gribskov railway line is reportedly not equipped with a modern automated safety system.
