The train collided with the bus that had stalled on the railway – a child has been identified among the dead.
Russian investigative committee’s Moscow department for transport said: “At least 17 people have died in the collision”.
Rita Shlyakhtina, the regional governor’s press secretary, claimed the bus was trying to avoid a traffic jam.
She declared: “People inside the bus were sleeping, there were 50 of them. The driver shouted and 34 people ran out of the bus to push it. They survived. Those who remained in the bus died. It got literally torn apart.”
The central hospital stated that five people have been admitted, four of which are in a critical state, local reports explained.
The Moscow railway authority has given further details on the incident that took place this morning.
It stated: “Tonight, at 3:39 a.m. a bus was passing a railway crossing near the Pokrov station when the engine stalled.”
After the crash, 12 people were taken to hospital – two are children.
Early reports indicate that the bus driver was crossing the train tracks despite the presence of red lights.
34 people have survived the incident, police are currently at the scene to establish further details of the incident.
The bus was driving with Kazakhstan number plates and carrying Uzbek citizens – the vehicle had reportedly come from the country that sits on Russia’s southern border.