A serious train accident near the Dutch town of Voorschoten, north of The Hague, has killed one person and seriously injured around 30 others. The incident took place around 03:30 on Tuesday morning.
The collision, involving a passenger train, a goods train and a crane, occurred on the Leiden - The Hague route. Among the injured is the driver of the train, who was reportedly taken to hospital alongside those who required urgent medical assistance, the country's railway operator NS said.
"The NS train contained about 50 passengers. One person died as a result of the crash, while 30 were injured" a statement on the NS website read. A total of 24 ambulances were deployed to transfer 19 slightly and seriously injured victims to five hospitals.
It has since been confirmed that the person who died was an employee of the construction company BAM, which is carrying out maintenance work on two of the four tracks in the area. The accident is reportedly the most serious in years on the usually safe Dutch railway, where accidents involving deaths or many injured are relatively rare.
There is still much uncertainty about how both a goods train and a passenger train could collide with a wheeled construction crane, which was deployed during planned track works on two tracks where no trains were running.
Wouter Koolmees, NS's CEO expressed his grief, stating that there will be investigations into how this happened. "Right now, all attention is on the welfare of our passengers and colleagues."
Credit: Belga
The Dutch Safety Board (OVV), an independent administrative body that investigates disasters and other major incidents, went on-site almost immediately after the accident with several investigators.
"They are doing an initial reconnaissance and will investigate in the usual way," a spokesperson told Belga News Agency. "It is too early to say anything about the accident itself because it has just happened, but the investigation is ongoing." In addition, there will also be a criminal investigation led by the public prosecutor's office.
Train traffic halted
NS noted on its website that, as investigations into the accident are ongoing and the fact that there is damage to the track, no train traffic is possible around Voorschoten, even though the train has been removed from the track.
Leiden Centraal station was closed to passengers around 08:30 on Tuesday morning "due to unjustifiable crowding."
"No trains will run to and from Leiden until 16:00. Travellers are asked to arrange alternative transport and to keep an eye on the travel planner." It is possible that there will be no train traffic between Leiden and The Hague for days.
Tweet from Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte: "A terrible train accident near Voorschoten, where unfortunately one person died and many were injured. My thoughts are with the bereaved families and with all the victims. I wish them every strength."
Nadine Stemerdink, mayor of the municipality of Voorschoten, called the deadly train accident "incredibly tragic."
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"I sympathise with the victims. My thoughts go out to all the family and friends of the people involved," the mayor said in a statement shared by Hollands Midden Safety Region, which combines the fire brigade, police, Emergency Medical Services and municipalities for disaster and crisis management.
Those who have a general question about the incident are advised to contact the public information line of ProRail, which is responsible for the rail network of The Netherlands, at 0800 7767245.
This article will be updated as new information is released.
