Limoges - A man was in critical condition and two other people also still hospitalised Saturday after a train derailed near the southwestern French city of Limoges when it hit a trailer, a hospital official said.

Three wagons derailed Friday around 8:40 pm (1840 GMT) injuring a total of 13 people after the train rammed into the trailer carrying straw that had accidentally toppled on the tracks.

The 42-year-old man, who was in critical condition, suffered multiple injuries and was in intensive care after undergoing surgery overnight.

The life of a 48-year-old woman, who was also "very seriously injured", was no longer in danger while the third hospitalised person had a broken jaw.

All other injured were released from hospital after treatment.

The train which was running between Paris and Cahors was carrying some 450 passengers, the state rail company SNCF said. It hit the trailer at 110 kilometres an hour (68 mph) and dragged it for 200 metres (650 feet).

The owner of trailer which was being loaded with bales of straw when it hurtled down onto the tracks has been arrested.

At the start of the summer holiday season dozens of rail workers worked through the night to repair the damage to the tracks and overhead lines, and clear one of the two blocked tracks, a spokesman said.

Traffic on one track resumed Saturday around 10:30 am (0830 GMT) at reduced speed.

Transport secretary Dominique Bussereau said on LCI news channel the accident was "absolutely improbable", "absurd" and "maybe just unpredictable".

AFP / Expatica