Railway Bridge Collapses In Kursk: Second Train Derailment In Russia In 24 Hours

In a dramatic turn of events, a second railway bridge collapse has shaken Russia within 24 hours, this time in the Zheleznogorsk district of the Kursk region, resulting in the derailment of a cargo train and injuring one of the drivers of the locomotive. The Kursk region, like Bryansk, lies close to the Russia-Ukraine border, where tensions have remained high amid ongoing conflict. The accident happened overnight, Russian official Alexander Khinshtein reported on Telegram. Russia's Investigative Committee said to Reuters that bridges collapsed in the Bryansk and Kursk regions due to explosions."Last night… in the Zheleznogorsk district, a bridge collapsed during a passing freight locomotive. Part of the train dropped onto the road under the bridge," Khinshtein said. Initial reports suggest that at least one train driver sustained injuries during the accident.

Freight Train Derailed | Credit: X

Just hours earlier, a far deadlier incident unfolded in Russia’s Bryansk region, when a road bridge collapsed onto a railway track, derailing a passenger train. The train was traveling from Moscow to Klimovo when it hit debris and derailed in the Vygonichsky district, about 100 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. Seven people have been killed in the collapse. Thirty victims, two of them children, were sent to medical centers. Among the victims was the driver of the locomotive, while shocking visuals shared on state media showed passenger cars were ripped apart and scattered amid heavy concrete debris.

Rosavtodor, the federal agency of Russian roads, said the bridge, which crossed over the railway line, collapsed unexpectedly. Massive chunks of concrete came crashing down just as the passenger train was passing beneath. The Ministry of Emergency Situations deployed 180 rescue workers immediately to the area. Moscow Railways posted on Telegram that the derailment occurred because of "the collapse of a road bridge span as a result of illegal interference in the operation of transport."

Bryansk road bridge collapsed onto a railway track | Credit: X

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Bryansk Region Under Threat Amid War Tensions?

The Bryansk region, which was already tense from constant cross-border shelling, drone attacks, and sabotage missions, has experienced repeated attacks on infrastructure since the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Though no Russian officials have openly accused any suspects, the phrase "illegal interference" tends to get bandied about to describe acts of terrorism or sabotage. According to the Telegram channel Baza, which specialises in law enforcement sources, the bridge was likely intentionally destroyed, although evidence was not given.

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The twin accidents have heightened tensions about the safety of key transport infrastructure throughout Russian territories near the border and conflict zones. In the meantime, US President Donald Trump urged Moscow and Kyiv to resume peace negotiations, while it is reported that Russia proposed a second round of direct talks with Ukrainian leaders in Istanbul next week.