Germany Train Crash: Nine Dead, More Than 100 Injured In Head-On Collision Near Munich

Nine people have died and more than 100 others have been injured after two trains crashed head on in southern Germany.

One train derailed and several carriages overturned in the crash near Bad Aibling, about 60 kilometres south-east of Munich.

Teams were sent to the scene after the crash happened at 6:48am (local time) and helicopters and ambulances have been taking the injured to hospital.

Rescue teams are trying to free people still trapped in the wreckage.

"We now have nine dead," said police spokesman Juergen Thalmeier, adding that there are "two missing people, who are very likely still in the wreckage".

A total of 126 people were injured, including 15 critically and another 40 with serious injuries, national rail operator Deutsche Bahn said.

The two train drivers and a conductor were among the dead, local broadcaster Bayerische Rundfunk reported.

Regional rail company Meridian, a subsidiary of the French group Transdev, said in a statement that "a tragic accident occurred on the single-track route between Rosenheim and Holzkirchen".

Rainer Scharf, a police officer from the southern state of Bavaria, said "given the severity of the accident, we believe the two regional trains collided head-on at a low speed".

He added that the priority was to "rescue the many injured".

The rail route was closed to traffic, as well as two local roads.

Local media have reported it was likely there were fewer people on the train than usual due this week's Fasching or Carnival celebrations in parts of southern Germany.

The cause of the accident is not yet clear.

"The accident is an enormous shock for us," said Bernd Rosenbusch, who heads the Bavarian rail company BOB that operates trains on the route.

"We will do everything to help travellers, their relatives and our employees."

Christian Schreyer, chief executive of Transdev, said: "We are deeply shocked and stunned that something like this could have happened. Our thoughts are with the victims and relatives of the victims".

The accident is believed to be the first deadly train crash since April 2012, when three people were killed and 13 injured in a collision between two regional trains in the western German town of Offenbach.

The country's deadliest post-war accident happened in 1998, when a high-speed ICE train linking Munich and Hamburg derailed, killing 101 people and injuring 88 at the northern town of Eschede.

culled Abc.net.au