The collision

On Wednesday, 21 October, shortly after 14:00, a train on the Świdnica to Wrocław Główny route collided with an excavator near the junction of Gazowa and Międzyleska streets in Wrocław's Brochów district. The carrier, Koleje Dolnośląskie, said about 100 people were on board the train.

The excavator was carrying out renovation work at viaducts in the area. According to the reports, its operator tried to drive across the rail line, became stuck on the tracks, and was struck by the approaching train.

Injuries and damage

No one was injured. Joanna Bisiecka-Szymczak of the Crisis Management Centre in Wrocław confirmed this at the scene, and the carrier said passengers did not need to be evacuated.

“No one was harmed in the incident.”

The excavator was seriously damaged. Two fire crews were working at the site to secure the area.

Police search for the operator

The excavator's operator fled the scene after the collision. Police are looking for that person, and the reports do not say whether the search has produced any results.

Rail disruption

Only one track on the Wrocław to Świdnica line was blocked, but PKP said rail traffic between Wrocław Główny and Bielany Wrocławskie had been halted. Koleje Dolnośląskie put replacement buses into service. Some trains were cancelled between Wrocław Główny and Bielany Wrocławskie, and delays reached several dozen minutes. The carrier was checking whether cancellations on the Wrocław to Świdnica route were caused by the collision. In its notice on the Portal Pasażera, PKP apologised to passengers:

“We apologise for the disruption.”

The reports do not yet say when the track will reopen or when normal service will resume.