BEIJING, November 27, 2025 – A train collision in Kunming, southwestern China, has killed 11 railway workers and injured two others, marking the deadliest rail accident in China in over a decade, officials confirmed. The incident occurred at Luoyang Town railway station, where the train was conducting tests on earthquake detection equipment and struck workers on a curved section of track.

Details of the Kunming Rail Tragedy

Local authorities in Yunnan province reported that the station has since resumed normal services while investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing. The tragedy highlights the dangers faced by maintenance crews working on China’s expansive rail network, the world’s largest, covering over 160,000 km (100,000 miles) and handling billions of passenger and freight trips annually.

In a separate but related incident, two railway maintenance workers were killed on Thursday in Deyang, Sichuan province, after being struck by a train, according to Jimu News. These back-to-back accidents have raised concerns about railway safety protocols and worker protection measures.

China’s Railway Safety Record

China’s rail network, celebrated for its high-speed efficiency, has faced scrutiny after several high-profile disasters. In 2011, a crash in Zhejiang province killed 40 people and injured 200. In 2021, nine workers were killed when a train struck maintenance personnel on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway in Gansu province.

Railway experts say that despite technological advances, worker safety on high-speed and conventional lines remains a critical challenge, especially during maintenance and testing operations.

Response and Investigation

Authorities have pledged a full investigation into the Kunming crash, including reviewing safety procedures, training, and communication protocols between train operators and maintenance teams. The Chinese government has emphasized railway worker safety in recent years, but incidents like this underscore the ongoing risks in one of the world’s busiest rail systems.

Officials and local media have urged caution for workers on active tracks and called for stricter safety oversight, particularly in high-risk areas such as curved sections where visibility is limited.

Broader Implications

This accident has renewed calls for enhanced safety measures and investment in protective systems for railway maintenance crews. With China continuing to expand its rail network and high-speed train operations, experts say balancing efficiency with worker safety is essential to prevent future tragedies.