UPDATE: ‘It was horrifying’: Passengers recall terrifying moment train derails

A train carrying passengers has derailed in Victoria, leaving two people dead and several others injured.

Several carriages on the Sydney to Melbourne XPT train derailed near Wallan station, 45km north of Melbourne, on Thursday around 7.45pm.

V/Line has confirmed the NSW Countrylink train derailed about 500m north of Wallan station, near the Epping-Kilmore Road.

Ambulance Victoria released a statement on Thursday evening.

“Paramedics are assessing a number of people after an incident involving a train at Wallan,” the statement read.

“One person will be flown by air ambulance to Melbourne.

“Four people will be taken to hospital in a stable condition.

“A number of other people will be taken to hospital with minor injuries.

“Police have confirmed two people have died in the incident.”

A train has come off the tracks at Wallan in Victoria. Credit: 7NEWS

About 160 passengers are understood to have been travelling on the train, which had left Central Station in Sydney at 7.40am and was heading for Melbourne’s Southern Cross station when it derailed.

The track buckled and both carriages shifted at least 10m from their normal trajectory.

It is believed the two deceased were travelling in the drivers’ carriage.

Emergency services, including an Air Ambulance chopper, attended the derailment site, which was described by the CFA as “chaotic.”

Photographs posted to social media show a number of carriages rolled over and off the tracks as shocked passengers disembark.

Passenger Scott Rickard took to Twitter to post photographs of the derailed train.

“We just suddenly slid into a fast stop, carriage at an angle stuff flying everywhere,” Rickard wrote.

“Tray tables went flying.”

In a statement, V/Line said the cause of the derailment was not yet known, with two carriages involved.

“The BP services centre, southbound on the Hume Freeway is being set up as a triage point,” the statement read.

“All trains on the Seymour and Albury lines have been stopped and will be replaced by buses.”

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All passengers who were able to walk from the train were taken to the Wallan McDonald’s and BP station area, which was used as the triage centre.

Injured passengers were expected to be taken to Northern Health hospital in Epping for treatment.

By 9pm on Thursday, CFA said the rescue operation had been completed.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation and Transport for NSW have been contacted for comment.

It is understood the ARTC is in charge of the rail maintenance, while the train was managed by Transport for NSW.