A Frecciarossa train travelling between the Northern Italian cities of Milano and Piacenza derailed this morning just outside the city of Lodi. Footage from the scene shared on social media shows one carriage of the train laying on its side as firefighters and the Police carry on search and rescue. Two train conductors have reportedly died and at least 30 people were injured.
The train was reported to have crashed at 5.30am on Thursday and the high-speed Frecciarossa line announced the suspension of all travel between Milan and Bologna to allow emergency services to intervene.
Local reports suggest the first two carriages of the Frecciarossa 9595 service were involved in a crash that caused at least one carriage to be pulled from the train tracks.
Firefighters and members of the local Police service remained at the scene to help with rescue operations.
The train was the first service of the morning to leave Milan Centrale station and was due to stop in Bologna before heading further south to Salerno.
READ MORE: Italy train crash: Two dead and 30 injured as high-speed train crashes near Milan
Former European Parliament President Antonio Tajani demanded an immediate inquest on the accident.
Commenting on the Frecciarossa crash, Mr Tajani wrote on Twitter: “Every day thousands of Italians, commuters and non-commuters, travel by train.
“Tragedies like the one that happened today in Lodi must never happen. Let there be immediate clarity on the accident. Condolences to the relatives of the victims.
The official Twitter account of the Italian Firefighting Service wrote: “Lodi, train accident near Casalpusterlengo, a high-speed train was involved. Teams of the Milan, Lodi and Piacenza firefighting services have been dispatched. Several injured reported, intervention ongoing.
National newspaper La Repubblica reported rescue services believe the first carriage swayed off the tracks before completely crashing off into a railway building nearby.
The rest of the train is believed to have continued proceeding on the tracks before the second carriage also derailed and crashed on its side.
The newspaper also reported 25 of the injured passengers were taken to hospital but were not in serious conditions while a member of the Frecciarossa staff was hospitalised with a broken femur.
All high-speed trains to and from Milan have been diverted to the slow-speed Milan-Piacenza line with a 60-minute delay on all services.