Two decades after the catastrophic train crash at Zoufftgen, the six victims were honoured on Sunday at the monument marking the site of the tragedy, near the French-Luxembourg border.
The ceremony took place on 11 October 2026, exactly twenty years after a passenger train from Luxembourg collided head-on with a freight train from Thionville.
The collision occurred at 11.44am, just metres from the border, and remains one of the worst rail disasters in the region's history.
Initially, the government's emergency response unit reported a provisional toll of four dead, two critically injured, and thirteen others hurt.
Ultimately, the accident claimed six lives: Charles Antonoff, Eric Bruneau – SECO RAIL team leader – Patrick Choucoutou, Alexandre Dées de Sterio, Steve Dondelinger – the Luxembourg train's conductor – and Christophe Kieffer, the French freight train's conductor.
At Sunday's ceremony, six candles were lit, one for each victim, in a symbolic act of remembrance. Wreaths were also laid at the foot of the commemorative monument to ensure that the tragedy and those affected are not forgotten.
Train services at Zoufftgen were halted during the ceremony, allowing families of the victims, Minister for Mobility Yuriko Backes, Dudelange MP-Mayor Dan Biancalana, Zoufftgen Mayor Nicolas Morin, Roland Balcerzak – president of the local community council – and senior representatives of Luxembourg's CFL and France's SNCF to gather and pay their respects. The group collectively observed a minute’s silence in memory of the victims.
In official statements, CFL and SNCF underlined the importance of remembering those who lost their lives, expressing deep regret over the tragic chain of events that led to the collision.
Both national rail operators reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to joint and tireless efforts to improve rail safety, stating that it remains their "absolute and daily priority for travellers and staff".
