At 11:25 CEST on 9 September 2026, a PKP Intercity train derailed after a concrete mixer lorry had collided into a carriage of the train at a level crossing on the Tomaszów Mazowiecki–Radom railway in Sokolniki Suche, Masovian Voivodeship in Poland.
At least 1 passenger was killed and 20 others sustained injuries. 111 passengers and three crew members were onboard the train.
Background The Tomaszów Mazowiecki–Radom railway is an electrified long railway line, connecting Tomaszów Mazowiecki (in the east) with Radom Główny (in the west). In this section were the accident took place, which was extensively modernised with new tracks in 2025, the line is double-track; its maximum speed is . The level crossing is unguarded but contains working warning lights with CCTV. The crossing is situated approximately north of national road 12, between Wieniawa and Skrzynno.
Accident At 11:25 CEST on 9 September 2026, the PKP Intercity "Koziołek" train from Lublin Główny to Szczecin Główny, reporting mark 2820/1, derailed after a concrete mixer lorry had collided into the side of the train's first carriage. It occurred at an unguarded level crossing with warning lights in Sokolniki Suche, between Wieniawa and Skrzynno railway stations, on the Tomaszów Mazowiecki–Radom railway. All six carriages hauled by a PKP class EP09-046 electric locomotive derailed, including the locomotive which tipped onto its side to the adjacent track.
The train was travelling upon derailment; the maximum line speed is . The driver of the lorry became trapped inside his vehicle and had to be freed by firefighters.
Casualties and responses At least one female passenger, who was in the first carriage died, and another 20 were injured. Seven of whom were hospitalised, which included the train driver and two crew members, and the lorry driver; all of whom sustained serious injuries. 30 fire units, eight ambulances, and two air ambulances attended the scene. 67 passengers were transported to a community centre in Skrzynno.
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said "We will begin work on tightening regulations for those who enter level crossings despite barriers and red lights. This has to stop."
A few hours after the accident, the (ZZMK) called for all train drivers in Poland to reduce their speed each time when passing a level crossing, all day on 11 September. The appeal applies to all level crossings, regardless of their category. ZZMK are also advising for train drivers to take their time to exercise extreme caution; "carrying out departure procedures with the utmost caution and without haste". This also comes after the major increase in level crossing accidents in the country, since the start of September of this year. The time of the protest was ultimately reduced to take place until noon of 11 September. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe reported that around 30% of trains in Poland took part in the protest, which accumulated to over 23,000 minutes of delays.
PKP Intercity cancelled its 25th anniversary celebrating the founding of PKP Intercity and the 100th anniversary of Polish State Railways. It was scheduled for 10 September to be held at Warszawa Główna.
Aftermath The line suffered extreme damage; both tracks were deformed, and the overhead wires were destroyed together with their support beams. Traffic on the Wolanów–Przysucha section of the Tomaszów Mazowiecki–Radom railway was suspended. Rail replacement bus services were organised for the passengers and other affected services. Tickets for PKP Intercity trains were accepted onboard Polregio and Łódź Agglomeration Railway services. PKP Intercity trains were rerouted, causing delays. Masovian Railways route R82 was substituted by a replacement bus between Radom Główny and Wolanów, in conjunction with another bus service between Wolanów and Drzewica.
The locomotive involved in the collision, EP09-046, named Rodzyn, along with two of the derailed carriages, will be scrapped. PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PLK) announced its plan to reopen at least the first track by 11 or 12 September, and estimated the cost of damages at approximately 3 million PLN. Work on removing the derailed locomotive and carriages began on 10 September, using two cranes. According to new findings published by Polsat News on the same day, the train actually collided into the lorry, rather than it colliding into the side of the first carriage.
The last carriage was rerailed on the evening of 11 September. PLK reopened the line at 23:25 on the same day, with the line speed (in the section of the accident) being temporarily restricted to and level crossing speed to whilst further repair works are underway.
Preliminary cause An investigation team was dispatched to the accident. According to preliminary findings, the concrete mixer lorry struck the first carriage of the train. This impact is what is believed to have caused the entire train to derail. According to PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe, the level crossing was unguarded with working warning lights and CCTV.
The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Piotr Malepszak, said the driver of the lorry claims to have been "blinded by the sun", although this claim is yet to be confirmed. Malepszak also said that "the broader problem lay with driver training". The prosecutor in Radom confirmed the collision was an accident, saying "We have no grounds to claim that he intended to cause a disaster. We assume that he failed to exercise due care".
See also
Tomaszów Mazowiecki–Radom railway 2026 Białośliwie train collision
References