At about 19:30 CET (18:30 UTC), a passenger train operated by National Express Germany ran into the rear of a freight train operated by DB Cargo near Meerbusch-Osterath station, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The freight train was travelling from Dillingen, Saarland to Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands.

[2] The leading carriage of the Bombardier Talent 2 electric multiple unit which formed the passenger train was severely damaged.

[1] The rescue of passengers was hampered by fallen power cables,[5] which were made safe by Deutsche Bahn.

[6] It was reported that the passenger train may have incorrectly been given permission to pass a signal indicating “stop”.