PICTURES, VIDEO

Head-on train collision injures 35 in Switzerland: Police

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) staff inspect the rails after removing carriages at the site of a head-on collision between two trains near Granges-pres-Marnand, near Payerne in western Switzerland on July 29, 2013. The two trains collided head-on in Sw
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) staff inspect the rails after removing carriages at the site of a head-on collision between two trains near Granges-pres-Marnand, near Payerne in western Switzerland on July 29, 2013. The two trains collided head-on in Switzerland on Monday evening, injuring about 35 people, five seriously, police said. The driver of one of the trains was still unaccounted for and thought to be inside the wreckage, at Granges-pres-Marnand in the canton of Vaud, police spokesman Jean-Christophe Sauterel said. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Injured passengers are helped at the site where two passenger trains collided head-on in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland, on Monday, July 29, 2013. Police say at least 44 people were injured, four of them seriously. -- PHOTO: AP
Rescuers work on the site of a train accident on July 29, 2013 in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland. Two trains collided head-on, injuring 40 passengers, at least five of them seriously, police said. -- PHOTO: AFP
Rescue personnel work at the site where two passenger trains collided head-on in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland, on Monday, July 29, 2013. Police say at least 44 people were injured, four of them seriously. -- PHOTO: AP
A fireman works at the site where two passenger trains collided head-on in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland, on Monday, July 29, 2013. Police say at least 44 people were injured, four of them seriously. -- PHOTO: AP
Rescuers works on the site of a train accident on July 29, 2013 in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland. Two trains collided head-on, injuring 40 passengers, at least five of them seriously, police said. -- PHOTO: AFP
A picture shows the site of a train accident on July 29, 2013 in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland. Two trains collided head-on, injuring 40 passengers, at least five of them seriously, police said. -- PHOTO: AFP
This handout picture provided by "24 heures/Tribune de Geneve" shows the site of a collision of two trains on July 29, 2013 in Granges-pres-Marnand, Western Switzerland. Two trains collided head-on, injuring 40 passengers, at least five of them seriously, police said. -- PHOTO: AFP
A police officer looks at the damage after a head on collision between two trains near Granges-pres-Marnand, near Payerne in western Switzerland, on July 29, 2013. The two trains collided at Granges-près-Marnand in the Swiss canton of Vaud on Monday evening, injuring about 40 people, four seriously, Swiss news agency ATS reported. There was no immediate report of any deaths in the crash. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Swiss rescue workers wheel a wounded person on a stretcher after two regional trains crashed head on near Granges-Pres-Marnand near Payerne in western Switzerland on July 29, 2013. The two trains collided in the Swiss canton of Vaud on Monday evening, injuring about 40 people, four seriously, Swiss news agency ATS reported. There was no immediate report of any deaths in the crash. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
An injured victim is wheeled away at the scene where two Swiss regional trains collided head on near Granges-Pres-Marnand near Payerne in western Switzerland on July 29, 2013. The two trains collided in the Swiss canton of Vaud on Monday evening, injuring about 40 people, four seriously, Swiss news agency ATS reported. There was no immediate report of any deaths in the crash. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A rescue worker stands near two Swiss regional trains after a head-on collision near Granges-Pres-Marnand near Payerne in western Switzerland on July 29, 2013. The two trains collided in the Swiss canton of Vaud on Monday evening, injuring about 40 people, four seriously, Swiss news agency ATS reported. There was no immediate report of any deaths in the crash. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A view of the scene where two Swiss regional trains collided head on near Granges-Pres-Marnand near Payerne in western Switzerland on July 29, 2013. The two trains collided in the Swiss canton of Vaud on Monday evening, injuring about 40 people, four seriously, Swiss news agency ATS reported. There was no immediate report of any deaths in the crash. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Police inspect the site where two passenger trains collided head-on in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland, on Monday, July 29, 2013. Numerous people have been injured. -- PHOTO: AP
Rescue personnel work at the site where two passenger trains collided head-on in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland, on Monday, July 29, 2013. Numerous people have been injured. -- PHOTO: AP
Rescue personnel work at the site where two passenger trains collided head-on in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland, on Monday, July 29, 2013. Numerous people have been injured. -- PHOTO: AP
Rescue personnel work at the site where two passenger trains collided head-on in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland, on Monday, July 29, 2013. Numerous people have been injured. -- PHOTO: AP
Rescuers work on the site of a train accident on July 29, 2013 in Granges-pres-Marnand, western Switzerland. Two trains collided head-on Monday in western Switzerland, injuring 35 passengers, at least five of them seriously, police said. -- PHOTO: AFP

GENEVA (AFP) - Two trains collided head-on Monday in western Switzerland, injuring 35 passengers, at least five of them seriously, police said.

The collision occurred in Granges-pres-Marnand around 7pm (1am Singapore time), police said.

Late Monday, rescuers had still been unable to reach one of the drivers.

Photographs published by Swiss media underlined the force of the crash, with engines of the trains wrecked and wrapped together.

The five seriously injured individuals were flown by helicopter or taken by ambulance to a hospital in nearby Payerne and south to the city of Lausanne.

The news portal 20minutes.ch said many of the injured were being treated at the scene.

One train was bound for Lausanne, some 38km to the south, while the other was travelling north from the same city.

Traffic was interrupted on a stretch of the line which links the cities of Palezieux and Payerne, the Swiss federal railway company said.

Investigators were on site to launch an investigation into the causes of the crash, officials said.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.