Overview
- Police and the operator BLS say avalanche activity caused the derailment in the Stockgraben section between Goppenstein and Hohtenn, with initial findings indicating a slide crossed the tracks shortly before the train passed.
- Authorities confirm 29 people were on board; five were injured, one was taken to hospital in Sion, and all remaining passengers were safely evacuated.
- Rail traffic remains suspended between Goppenstein and Brig as rescue crews and engineers conduct safety checks, with replacement buses reported locally between Goppenstein and Gampel.
- The Valais region is under a level‑4 avalanche warning after heavy snowfall and strong winds, and officials caution that conditions continue to pose hazards to transport infrastructure.
- The Valais public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the circumstances, and officials corrected early media reports that suggested roughly 80 passengers were on the train.