EuroWire, ULYANOVSK: At least 55 adult passengers sought medical help after an overnight passenger train linking Moscow and Chelyabinsk derailed in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region on April 3, with seven coaches leaving the track near Bryandino and no deaths reported. Regional authorities said the train was carrying about 415 passengers when the accident happened early Friday, prompting a large emergency response and a criminal investigation into possible violations of railway safety rules.
The derailment occurred at about 6:26 a.m. Moscow time near Bryandino station, roughly 70 kilometers from the city of Ulyanovsk, according to regional officials and Russian Railways. Emergency crews moved passengers from the damaged coaches as transport on the section was temporarily disrupted. Authorities said reserve rail cars, buses and temporary accommodation were arranged as passengers were transferred onward and support points were established to provide food, medical checks and further travel assistance.
Officials said the casualty count rose through the day as passengers were examined after reaching safety. Regional health authorities said 55 adult passengers sought medical help, and 17 of them were hospitalized at Ulyanovsk Central Clinical Hospital. Earlier official updates had reported lower injury totals, including children, before the broader medical assessment was completed. Officials also said there were no fatalities and that children who were hurt did not suffer serious injuries.
Emergency response expands
The Emergencies Ministry and regional authorities deployed more than 150 specialists and dozens of pieces of equipment to the site as rescue and recovery work continued. A temporary shelter was opened in Bryandino, and a medical examination point was set up at Ulyanovsk-Central railway station for passengers arriving from the scene. Ulyanovsk region Governor Alexei Russkikh said he traveled to the site and remained in contact with railway managers, doctors and emergency services coordinating the response.
Medical officials said the injuries ranged from bruises to fractures, with earlier reports identifying one broken leg and one broken collarbone among the more serious cases. Chelyabinsk region Governor Alexei Teksler, whose region was connected to the train’s route, said children on board were under observation and were not believed to have sustained severe injuries. Additional hospital beds were prepared in the Ulyanovsk region as doctors assessed passengers who were evacuated from the overturned and tilted rail cars.
Safety probe under way
Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under railway transport safety provisions, while transport prosecutors launched a separate review of compliance with operating rules. Authorities said the exact cause of the derailment was still under investigation. Official statements said investigators were examining the condition of the track as part of the probe, while railway workers and recovery crews focused on clearing the site, documenting the damage and restoring movement on the affected section.
Russian Railways said passengers from the derailed service would continue their journey on alternative transport and that medical support remained available during the transfer process. The company also said passengers were entitled to compensation under existing insurance arrangements. By late Friday, officials were still compiling medical data and overseeing recovery work near Bryandino. The derailment left seven coaches off the track, but authorities said no deaths had been recorded as monitoring and repairs continued.