On the morning of 19 February 2025, a severe railway accident took place in Romania. In Olt County, along Magistrala 100, two freight trains collided violently between Mihăești and Radomirești stations. One of the train drivers lost his life in the crash, while two others sustained injuries. The accident has also had significant repercussions on railway traffic, with disruptions paralysing one of the country's main freight transport routes.
The collision occurred at 10:45 at the Mihăești movement halt, a strategic junction on the electrified double-track railway line connecting Giurgiu Nord to Curtici. The two trains involved were operated by private companies: a Rail Cargo train carrying 19 empty car transport wagons en route to Curtici and a Pink train transporting 19 containers in the opposite direction towards Giurgiu Nord. According to initial reports from Romanian sources, the derailment of two wagons from the Rail Cargo convoy caused them to veer onto the opposite track. The Pink train, travelling in the opposite direction, was unable to avoid the frontal impact. Its locomotive overturned, sustaining significant structural damage.
The driver of the Pink convoy, a 60-year-old man, lost his life inside the crushed driver’s cab, trapped under the weight of the derailed wagons. The other two crew members involved suffered minor injuries and declined hospitalisation. Authorities immediately launched a rescue operation, with firefighters from Olt and Teleorman, as well as specialised teams for debris clearance and emergency response, arriving at the scene. A 250-tonne crane was dispatched from Bucharest to aid in the recovery efforts.
Romanian transport minister Sorin Grindeanu expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and assured a thorough investigation led by the Railway Investigations Agency (Agifer). The inquiry aims to establish responsibility, focusing on the maintenance of rolling stock and infrastructure safety. A commission composed of Agifer, CFR SA, and ASFR has been tasked with analysing track conditions, signalling systems, and the operational procedures of the involved companies. Special attention will be given to the derailed wagons and the safety protocols in place at the time of the accident.
The incident has led to a complete suspension of traffic on Magistrala 100, affecting freight transport routes towards the port of Constanța. Some passenger trains were halted at adjacent stations, with travellers transferred onto replacement buses. CFR Infrastructură has estimated at least 48 hours for full service restoration, considering the ongoing debris removal operations and technical investigations.
Early investigative hypotheses suggest either a mechanical failure in the Rail Cargo train’s bogies or human error in speed regulation. However, only the analysis of the locomotives' black boxes and maintenance records will provide definitive answers. This incident has reignited the debate on railway safety in the private sector. Railway unions have criticised increasing pressure to shorten train inspection times, raising the risk of malfunctions. Private companies, on the other hand, maintain that they adhere to safety protocols and attribute the accident to exceptional circumstances.
