At least 7 killed in French high-speed train test

The death toll has climbed to at least seven after a French high-speed train derailed during a test run today, sources said.

The train accident happened "because of excessive speed" at Eckwersheim in eastern France as technicians were on board for testing, said a top local official Dominique-Nicolas Jane.

However, police said the cause of the crash had not been determined. A source close to the investigation said dozens of technicians were aboard.

The train ended up near a bridge in the water of a roughly 40-metre wide canal.

A police dive team, helicopters and tens of rescue vehicles were sent to the scene in response to the crash.