The Hugstetten rail disaster occurred on the railway line between Freiburg im Breisgau and Breisach am Rhein on 3 September 1882.

With 64 people killed and some 230 seriously injured, it was the deadliest train accident in German history until the collision of two D-Trains in the Genthin rail disaster on 21 December 1939, which claimed 278 casualties.

On 3 September, which was the Sunday after the "Day of Sedan", more than 2,000 people from Alsace (which belonged to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War) had come to Freiburg to spend a relaxing holiday in the neighboring town.

Because the telegraphic cable line had been damaged, the Freiburg fire department arrived first at midnight at the accident site.

As the exact circumstances and pace of the train couldn't be determined due to conflicting testimonies (the speed control was yet to be developed), and since all the defendants claimed their innocence, all of the accused were freed after five days of negotiations.