Nine killed in French train crash: Rail official

Paris, Oct 11: A passenger train from Luxembourg collided with a goods train in north eastern France today killing nine people and injuring several others, an official for the state SNCF railways said.

The passenger train had just left neighbouring Luxembourg when it hit the goods train at Zoufftgen, in the French department of Moselle, at around 1515 hrs (0945 GMT).

''There are nine dead,'' said the SNCF spokesman in Paris.

A French fire official told France 2 television that around 20 people were injured.

A spokesman for Luxembourg police said they had sent emergency service officials to the scene of the crash.

''We have been closing streets and roads in the area around the site of the accident. We have also brought in traffic police to take charge of any ambulances if they come into Luxembourg,''said spokesman Vic Reuter.

''We have about 30 people on the scene.'' French Transport Minister Dominique Perben was heading to the scene, his office said.

REUTERS