IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Two killed after train derails in Australia

Local media carried pictures showing several carriages of the train askew off the tracks, with the locomotive on its side.
Image: The scene of an XPT train derailment is pictured near Melbourne
The scene on Friday of an interstate train that derailed outside Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 20, 2020.David Crosling / Reuters

SYDNEY — Two people were killed and a number of others were injured when an Australian interstate train derailed outside Melbourne on Thursday evening, police said.

The train, which was traveling from Sydney, came off the rails near the town of Wallan, about 50 km (30 miles) from Melbourne.

Local media carried pictures showing several carriages of the train askew off the tracks, with the locomotive on its side.

"It's believed the train traveling from Sydney to Melbourne derailed near the Hume Freeway just before 8 p.m.," police in the state of Victoria said in a tweet.

"Two people have died at the scene and a number of others are injured."

The Age newspaper in Melbourne, citing the ambulance service, said one person was flown by air ambulance to Melbourne, four people would be taken to hospital in a stable condition, and a number of others would be taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Transport authorities in New South Wales said there were approximately 160 passengers on board the train.