This train was the regular EuroCity 279 route from Prague to Budapest via Bratislava.
Czech railway locomotives operated pulling carriages of the Slovak Railway.
Czech Railways praised the actions of the driver, who said he had prevented injuries to train passengers by taking quick action to prevent the derailment.
He reportedly ran into the control room seconds before the impact and suffered burns in the ensuing fire.
According to Slovak media, the bus driver's experience is said to be over 30 years, according to an Ariva spokesperson.
Local media released footage of passengers carrying luggage next to a train that was partially engulfed in flames, as thick gray smoke billowed into the sky.
According to unconfirmed Slovak media reports, the level crossing had traffic lights and barriers, but they were not functioning due to the recent storm.
It is unclear whether it was functioning properly at the time of the crash.
Slovak Railways has not commented on the claims.
“A little carelessness is all it takes and life can change forever in a hundredth of a second,” Home Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, who was at the scene, wrote on social media.
“I hope this sad incident will make us all pay attention to safety at road and rail crossings.”
Passenger Katarina Molnarova told AFP she felt and heard a thud as soon as she left Novezamky station.
“After two minutes we were able to get off,” said the 43-year-old hairdresser.
“We saw the front of the train burning.”
“There was no screaming or panic,” she said, adding that passengers walked onto the road with their luggage.
Emergency services said five ambulances and three air ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
