ALBAWABA- Dozens of passengers were injured late Sunday when two trains collided on a busy commuter line north of Bratislava, Slovakia, in the country’s second major rail accident in less than a month.
The collision occurred between the towns of Svatý Jur and Pezinok, about 20 kilometers northeast of the capital, when a regional train traveling from Nitra to Bratislava rear-ended the Tatran express from Košice. Authorities said the impact caused a “loud bang” but no derailment or fatalities.
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, speaking from the scene, confirmed that 11 people were hospitalized in Bratislava, including two undergoing surgery. Local reports estimated up to 30 passengers suffered minor injuries such as cuts, bruises, and shock. Around 800 people were aboard the two trains at the time of the crash.
Rail operator ZSSK suspended services along the route and warned of prolonged disruptions as investigators examine whether signaling failures or human error caused the crash. Emergency teams evacuated passengers in cold autumn weather, though officials said neither train sustained major structural damage.
The incident comes just weeks after an October 13 collision in eastern Slovakia injured 91 people when a passenger train struck a stationary freight wagon. Both accidents have spotlighted long-standing deficiencies in Slovakia’s rail network, where outdated systems and deferred maintenance continue to raise safety concerns.
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government, already under scrutiny from Brussels for delays in using EU infrastructure funds, now faces renewed calls to fast-track upgrades, including the rollout of the European Train Control System.
