One dead and dozens injured in train crash in the Netherlands

The front section of the train derailed after hitting a crane machine on the tracks Remko de Waal / ANP

A passenger train of NS collided with a construction crane on the track and derailed in Voorschoten, South Holland, during the night from Monday to Tuesday. One person, the crane driver of construction company BAM Infra was killed, and at least 30 of the 50 passengers were injured. Some of the injured are in bad shape, 19 were transferred to the hospital, including the NS train driver. 

The train of Dutch Railways (NS) was en route from Leiden to The Hague early Tuesday morning when it collided with a small construction crane at around 03.25am. The front section of the passenger train ended up in a meadow, with the middle section lying on its side next to the track. Specialists are working to secure the train, according to the local authorities.

Twenty people with minor injuries were treated at the scene, 19 were transferred to a hospital. The driver of the passenger train that collided with the crane sustained bone fractures and is also in the hospital. This was said by NS director Wouter Koolmees on Tuesday during the press conference about the accident. Koolmees also disclosed that the conductors who were on the train during the accident are doing well under the circumstances. “The whole railway family is around them”, Koolmees said.

Local residents came to the rescue after the train accident, and were thanked by Mayor Nadine Stemerdink of Voorschoten. She spoke of a “terrible accident” and expressed condolences to relatives of the person who died and all others involved. Stemerdink praised the general practitioner who provided immediate first aid and accommodated victims at homes.

Construction works involved

At the site of the accident, construction works were being carried out, and two of the four tracks were out of service. Trains were – in accordance with safety regulations – able to run over the other two tracks, says ProRail. The construction crane that caused the accident belonged to construction company BAM. The fatal casualty was an employee of BAM, who was driving the rail-bound crane.

ProRail director John Voppen said that work was being finished up at the time of the accident, so construction workers were still at the scene, he told at the press conference. “Around 4 o’clock, I got a call and then immediately got in the car. It was a huge shock. A wheeled crane is put on the track and normally never changes tracks.” The damage to the rail infrastructure due to the accident is “enormous”, Voppen said, who visited the site of the accident.

“A black day for the Dutch railways”

Director of rail infrastructure manager ProRail John Voppen called this Tuesday 4 April “a black day for the Dutch railways”. “My thoughts are with everyone involved. We will of course investigate how this could have happened.” Investigations are carried out by the Dutch Safety Board (OVV), the ILT (Environment and Transport Inspectorate) and the police. ProRail itself also started an investigation.

The accident also involved a DB Cargo train. The driver of that train was medically examined, but he did not appear to have sustained any injuries from the accident. The goods train was not carrying hazardous materials, according to initial reports. The locomotive was badly damaged but not derailed. The same applies to the 26 freight wagons, of which 9 were loaded with limestone, according to DB Cargo.

Author: Esther Geerts

Former Editor RailTech.com

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One dead and dozens injured in train crash in the Netherlands | RailTech.com

One dead and dozens injured in train crash in the Netherlands

The front section of the train derailed after hitting a crane machine on the tracks Remko de Waal / ANP

A passenger train of NS collided with a construction crane on the track and derailed in Voorschoten, South Holland, during the night from Monday to Tuesday. One person, the crane driver of construction company BAM Infra was killed, and at least 30 of the 50 passengers were injured. Some of the injured are in bad shape, 19 were transferred to the hospital, including the NS train driver. 

The train of Dutch Railways (NS) was en route from Leiden to The Hague early Tuesday morning when it collided with a small construction crane at around 03.25am. The front section of the passenger train ended up in a meadow, with the middle section lying on its side next to the track. Specialists are working to secure the train, according to the local authorities.

Twenty people with minor injuries were treated at the scene, 19 were transferred to a hospital. The driver of the passenger train that collided with the crane sustained bone fractures and is also in the hospital. This was said by NS director Wouter Koolmees on Tuesday during the press conference about the accident. Koolmees also disclosed that the conductors who were on the train during the accident are doing well under the circumstances. “The whole railway family is around them”, Koolmees said.

Local residents came to the rescue after the train accident, and were thanked by Mayor Nadine Stemerdink of Voorschoten. She spoke of a “terrible accident” and expressed condolences to relatives of the person who died and all others involved. Stemerdink praised the general practitioner who provided immediate first aid and accommodated victims at homes.

Construction works involved

At the site of the accident, construction works were being carried out, and two of the four tracks were out of service. Trains were – in accordance with safety regulations – able to run over the other two tracks, says ProRail. The construction crane that caused the accident belonged to construction company BAM. The fatal casualty was an employee of BAM, who was driving the rail-bound crane.

ProRail director John Voppen said that work was being finished up at the time of the accident, so construction workers were still at the scene, he told at the press conference. “Around 4 o’clock, I got a call and then immediately got in the car. It was a huge shock. A wheeled crane is put on the track and normally never changes tracks.” The damage to the rail infrastructure due to the accident is “enormous”, Voppen said, who visited the site of the accident.

“A black day for the Dutch railways”

Director of rail infrastructure manager ProRail John Voppen called this Tuesday 4 April “a black day for the Dutch railways”. “My thoughts are with everyone involved. We will of course investigate how this could have happened.” Investigations are carried out by the Dutch Safety Board (OVV), the ILT (Environment and Transport Inspectorate) and the police. ProRail itself also started an investigation.

The accident also involved a DB Cargo train. The driver of that train was medically examined, but he did not appear to have sustained any injuries from the accident. The goods train was not carrying hazardous materials, according to initial reports. The locomotive was badly damaged but not derailed. The same applies to the 26 freight wagons, of which 9 were loaded with limestone, according to DB Cargo.

Author: Esther Geerts

Former Editor RailTech.com

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.