2023 Voorschoten train crash
| 2023 Voorschoten train crah | |
|---|---|
 NS VIRM 9405 was involved in the accident. | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Date | 4 April 2023 03:25 CEST (01:25 UTC) |
| Location | Voorschoten |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Line | Amsterdam–Haarlem–Rotterdam railway |
| Operator | Nederlandse Spoorwegen (passenger) DB Cargo (freight) |
| Incident type | Collision and derailment |
| Cause | Line obstructed |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Passengers | 50 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Injured | 50+ |
The Voorschoten train crash occurred on 4 April 2023 when a passenger train and a freight train collided with construction equipment at Voorschoten, South Holland, Netherlands. One person was killed and more than 50 were injured.
Accident
At 03:25 CEST (01:25 UTC), a passenger train operated by NS VIRM unit 9405,[1] collided with a crane that was obstructing the line at Voorschoten, South Holland, Netherlands. All four vehicles derailed,[2] killing one person and injuring more than 50.[3] Two of the four tracks through Voorschoten had been closed for engineering work to take place.[4] The driver of the passenger train survived with several broken bones.[5]
A small fire broke out in the rearmost carriage of the train, but it was quickly extinguished.[1] The train was travelling from Leiden, North Holland to Den Haag, South Holland.[2] A freight train was also reported to have collided with the crane.[3] The driver of that train, operated by DB Cargo, was reported to have survived uninjured.[4] The line was initially expected to remain closed until at least 16:00 on 4 April.[6] It was later announced that the line would not reopen that day. Leiden Centraal station was closed due to overcrowding as a result of the accident.[7] Buses replaced trains between Den Haag Centraal, Den Haag Laan van NOI, Den Haag Mariahoeve, Voorschoten De Vink, Leiden Centraal, Sassenheim, Nieuw Vennep and Hoofddorp.[5]
A "Code 50" alert was issued, as more than 50 people were injured. A GRIP 3 situation was also declared.[3] Emergency services attended the scene. Nineteen of the wounded were taken to hospital.[2]
Investigation
The Dutch Safety Board opened an investigation into the accident.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Een dode en meerdere zwaargewonden bij treinongeluk Voorschoten" [One dead and several seriously injured in Voorschoten train accident] (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Train derails after crashing into construction crane in Voorschoten; One killed, 30 hurt". NL Times. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Dode en tientallen gewonden en ontsporing bij treinongeval Voorschoten" [Dead and several wounded by train derailment at Voorschoten] (in Dutch). Regio15. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ a b "DB Cargo: machinist goederentrein botsing Voorschoten in orde" [DB Cargo: train driver in freight train collision at Voorschoten is okay] (in Dutch). Transport Online. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ a b ""A terrible accident," Dutch PM says about train derailment; Train driver among injured". NL Times. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Dutch rail crash: One dead after passenger train derails". BBC News Online. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Video: Passenger filmed derailed train evacuation; No trains to, from Leiden CS all day". NL Times. Retrieved 4 April 2023.