At least 50 people have been injured after a passenger train and freight train smashed into each other, Bild reported quoting federal police.

The horrific smash occurred near Meerbusch-Osterath station, on the outskirts of Dusseldorf in the west of the country. 

At around 7.30pm local time, a National Express train from Cologne to Krefeld with more than 100 passengers on board, collided with the DB Cargo train.

Hanging overhead electric cables prevented rescue teams from reaching the injured, but the first casualties have now started being pulled from the wreckage.