One Dead, 11 Injured as Freight Train Plows Into Tourist Bus Near St. Petersburg
In the pre-dawn hours of Monday, tragedy struck in Russia’s Leningrad Region when a freight train collided with a tourist bus at a level crossing northeast of St. Petersburg, killing one passenger and injuring 11 others, officials said.
The crash occurred at around 6 a.m. local time in the Lodeynopolsky District, according to the October Railway company. Investigators say the bus, carrying members of a religious group bound for the historic Alexander-Svirsky Monastery in Karelia, was struck from behind as it crossed the tracks.
“The train driver applied emergency braking, but the distance was insufficient to avoid impact,” the railway company confirmed in a statement.
Authorities say the force of the collision left several passengers hospitalized with serious injuries. The Russian Interior Ministry has launched a criminal investigation into possible breaches of road safety and vehicle operation regulations.
The 15th-century Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, a revered Orthodox pilgrimage site, was the intended destination of the group—adding a tragic dimension to an already devastating accident.
Deadly accidents at level crossings are not uncommon in Russia, where traffic violations and disregard for safety barriers continue to contribute to a series of preventable tragedies.
The incident echoes similar disasters reported in recent years by outlets such as The Moscow Times and RIA Novosti, underscoring the persistent dangers faced on the country’s rail network.
