Czech Republic train crash: Four killed and 26 injured after passenger train collides with freight service

Four people were killed and 26 left injured after a passenger train collided with a freight train in the Czech Republic on Wednesday evening.

Czech Interior minister Vit Rakusan said the crash happened in the city of Pardubice, some 60 miles east of Prague.

The high-speed passenger train belonged to the private RegioJet company.

Footage after the crash on news website idnes.cz showed at least one carriage off the track, while police showed on their X social media account a line of emergency service vehicles and a helicopter.

Rescuers said more than 300 passengers were on board the high-speed train heading for the city of Kosice in eastern Slovakia.

Mr Rakusan said none of the injured was in life-threatening condition.

Transport Minister Martin Kupka said the main track between Prague and the eastern part of the country had to be closed while authorities investigate the collision.

"We can't and won't speculate about the cause of the accident," Mr Kupka said.

The state-run train company, Czech Railways, said it was likely the track will remain closed for the entire day "due to the extent of the accident."

It said the line will also likely be closed on Thursday.

The authorities have yet to name those who were killed in the tragedy.

The drivers in both engines survived, the local CTK news agency said..

Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the crash a big tragedy and offered his condolences to the families of those killed.

The passenger train was operated by rail company RegioJet, Martin Netolicky, governor of the Pardubice region, confirmed.

"A head-on collision between a RegioJet train and a freight train claimed several lives and left dozens injured," he said.

The freight train was thought to be transporting calcium carbide, local media reported.

Pardubice was also the scene of the worst-ever Czech railway accident in 1960 when 118 people died in a collision of two passenger trains.