Deadly Test Run: China’s Rail Tragedy Claims 11 Lives

                                     China's rail network is the world's largest, spanning more than 160,000 km 

A devastating rail accident in southwestern China has left 11 railway workers dead and two others injured, marking the country’s worst rail disaster in more than a decade. The incident occurred on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in Kunming, Yunnan Province, when a train conducting earthquake detection equipment tests struck a maintenance crew on a curved section of track near Luoyang Town railway station.

Authorities confirmed that normal rail services have since resumed at the station, but an investigation is underway to determine how the tragedy unfolded. The workers were reportedly positioned along the test section of track when the train entered the curve, leaving little time to react.

China’s rail network, the largest in the world with over 160,000 km of track, has long been praised for its efficiency and scale, handling billions of trips annually. However, it has also faced scrutiny following several high-profile accidents. In 2011, a crash in Zhejiang killed 40 and injured 200, while in 2021, nine workers died in Gansu after being struck by a train during maintenance.

The Kunming accident has reignited concerns about worker safety protocols during test runs and maintenance operations. State-run media reported that the tragedy has triggered a major safety review across the rail system.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by railway workers and the importance of stringent safety measures in one of the world’s busiest transportation networks.