Train from Moscow to Chelyabinsk derails in Ulyanovsk region
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On the morning of April 3, 2026, seven out of fifteen carriages of the two-level train No. 302, traveling from Moscow to Chelyabinsk, derailed in the Ulyanovsk region, reports URA.RU. At least 22 people were injured, and there are no fatalities according to preliminary data. The cause of the incident near Bryandino station in the Ulyanovsk region is being investigated.
What happened
Russian Railways (RZD) reported that at 06:26 Moscow time, seven out of fifteen carriages of train No. 302 derailed near Bryandino station. According to Izvestia, one carriage caught fire, which was quickly extinguished. Due to the accident, train traffic on this section of the route was temporarily suspended.
Recovery trains were dispatched from Ulyanovsk, Bugulma, Syzran, and Ruzaevka stations to eliminate the consequences of the incident. RZD established an operational headquarters under the leadership of the company’s CEO, Oleg Belozerov. At Ulyanovsk-Central station, a passenger inspection point was set up to provide necessary medical assistance and to continue transportation via other trains.
Who was affected
Approximately 415 passengers were on board, including around 100 minors. Among them were 34 children from a sports section in Zlatoust and the “Vesnushki” dance group from Chelyabinsk. According to the South Ural Railway (YUzhD), the train included 157 residents of the Chelyabinsk region, 65 of whom were aged 6 to 17.
Initially, four people were reported injured, later updated to 12. Chelyabinsk Governor Alexey Texler stated that 20 passengers sought medical attention for bruises, and two others had fractures of the leg and collarbone. Seven people, including two children, were evacuated to hospitals in the Ulyanovsk region. There are no fatalities. All passengers from the six affected carriages were evacuated. The injured are entitled to insurance compensation from SOGAZ JSC.
What is known about the train
The train is a two-level composition that made its first trip on December 13, 2024. It operates daily between Chelyabinsk and Moscow, making 45 stops along the route. The carriages are equipped with climate control systems, toilets, and power outlets for charging mobile devices and other equipment. Over one year, the train has transported more than 176,000 passengers.
Bryandino station, where the incident occurred, is located between Chardakly and Dimitrovgrad. According to the schedule, the train stops at Chardakly for two minutes at 06:52 local time and arrives in Dimitrovgrad at 07:53.
Other railway incidents in Russia
Forbes reminds that in the summer of 2025, a bridge collapsed onto a passenger train in the Bryansk region, killing seven people and injuring more than 100. In the Kursk region, a bridge fell onto a roadway with a freight train passing over it, injuring the driver and two assistants.
Railway explosions have been recorded in the Voronezh, Pskov, Oryol, and Belgorod regions, killing at least two people. In the Smolensk region, a truck entered a railway crossing and was hit by a freight train — the driver and his assistant were hospitalized with moderate injuries. In mid-September, two locomotives derailed in the Leningrad region, resulting in the death of a driver.
Conclusion
Analysts at International Investment note that the transportation sector in Russia remains under pressure due to ongoing drone attacks affecting air travel. Rail transport was considered relatively safe until recently, but recent incidents show that even these journeys are now at risk.
Modern passenger trains, despite being technically equipped and operated according to standards, are not immune to serious accidents. This incident highlights the challenges of infrastructure and rolling stock maintenance. Monitoring track conditions, carriage safety, and train operations remains critically important. Threats persist, particularly due to ongoing military operations in Ukraine.