Swiss train landslide terror

A LANDSLIDE triggered by heavy rain caused a Swiss mountain train to derail, leaving ­passengers trapped in a carriage overhanging a ravine.
Rescuers work near a train after it was derailed by a landslide near Tiefencastel, in a mountainous part of eastern Switzerland. Picture: GettyRescuers work near a train after it was derailed by a landslide near Tiefencastel, in a mountainous part of eastern Switzerland. Picture: Getty
Rescuers work near a train after it was derailed by a landslide near Tiefencastel, in a mountainous part of eastern Switzerland. Picture: Getty

It was thought more than 200 people were on the train, which was travelling on the ­narrow-gauge Rhaetian railway at Tiefencastel, near St Moritz.

Five passengers were seriously injured and were taken by helicopter to local hospitals. Rescue workers struggled to reach those trapped in the dangling carriage as there is no road near the scene. Passengers in the hanging carriage crawled to the rear in an effort to stop it plunging into the gorge.

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One passenger, Steven Bueller, told Swiss radio: “We all went to the back to shift the weight. It was a nightmare scene with many terrified people aboard.”

Yesterday’s crash happened between Tiefencastel and Solis. There were no reports of fatalities and many passengers in the remaining carriages walked to safety along the line.

The second carriage behind the engine was left hanging after the first carriage plunged into the gorge and came to rest against rocks and trees around 100ft from the railway line.

“The track simply slid away immediately behind the locomotive,” said an eyewitness.

The crash on the Swiss railway network – judged the world’s safest – came three days after three people were killed when a mini bus was rammed on a level crossing at Nidwald in central Switzerland.