The accident took place at 8:15. a.m. (0715 GMT) near Rome's Tiburtina station when an incoming international train from Munich, Germany to Naples and an outgoing domestic Agrigento-Milan train headed onto the same rail track.

The Munich-Naples train went into the side of the other and caused about six carriages to derail and overturn.

Rescue workers said most of the injured suffered slight cuts and bruises but one passenger had a fracture in the femur.

Emilio Del Mese, a government official, said the accident happened because "one of the trains failed to respect a stop signal."

Italian Transport Minister Pietro Lunardi had ordered a thorough investigation into the accident.

Local prosecutors warned that those responsible would be prosecuted if the accident was found to happen due to negligence.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2003)