The accident occurred just before 8 p.m. on Friday evening, south of Rouen in northwestern France.
Around 20 people were injured in the accident, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot writes on X. He says around 140 rescue workers and firefighters are at the scene to assist the around 180 passengers.
According to television channel BFMTV, the passenger train collided with something on the track before it derailed.
