Normandy derailment inquiry widens focus on rail fragment found on track

A technical investigation has been launched into the derailment of a regional train near Rouen that left 44 people injured, as authorities work to establish how a piece of rail came to be lying on the track. Issued on: 14/09/2026 - 06:41 2 min Reading time Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on Sunday that the Bureau of Enquiries into Land Transport Accidents, known as the BEA-TT, would examine the circumstances surrounding the derailment alongside the judicial investigation already under way. “In addition to the judicial inquiry, a technical inquiry by the Bureau of Enquiries into Land Transport Accidents has been launched” to “determine precisely the circumstances” of the accident, Tabarot wrote on social media platform X. The BEA-TT, which was established in 2004, operates independently and investigates potentially serious accidents or incidents involving land transport. Its inquiries are intended to establish the circumstances of an accident, identify its certain or probable causes and make safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future. The organisation can take up cases on its own initiative when it considers that a technical investigation is warranted. Its director told reporters on Saturday that its primary objective was to issue recommendations rather than determine criminal responsibility. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Sabotage investigation underway after Normandy train derailment injures dozens Rail fragment at centre of investigation The two-carriage TER train, carrying 186 passengers between Rouen and Caen, derailed near Cléon in the Seine-Maritime department at around 7.45pm on Friday. One person was seriously injured. The causes of the derailment have yet to be established. Prosecutors said a piece of rail found on the track may have caused the accident, but stressed that the reason for its presence remained unknown. The discovery prompted several politicians to suggest that the derailment could have resulted from a deliberate act. However, the public prosecutor’s office urged caution on Saturday evening, saying investigators had not yet determined whether the rail fragment had been placed on the track intentionally. The judicial and technical investigations will run separately, with the former seeking to establish whether any criminal offence was committed and the latter focusing on the factors that led to the derailment and the lessons that can be drawn from it. Eurostar trains cancelled after World War II bomb found near Paris Gare du Nord Services remain disrupted Rail traffic in parts of Normandy remained disrupted on Sunday as work continued around the accident site. SNCF Voyageurs Normandie said trains between Caen and Elbeuf were running broadly according to their normal timetable, although some adjustments remained in place. However, the line between Elbeuf and Rouen was still not operational in either direction. Passengers were advised to check updated travel information before setting out. No timetable has yet been given for the full reopening of the affected section of the line. The investigations are continuing, with authorities expected to examine the condition of the track, the train and the rail fragment found at the scene. (with newswires)