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Dutch rail crash: One dead after passenger train hits crane and derails Dutch rail crash: One dead after passenger train hits crane and derails
(31 minutes later)
Several investigations are underway following Tuesday morning's crashSeveral investigations are underway following Tuesday morning's crash
One person has been killed and about 30 injured - some seriously - after a passenger train derailed in the western Netherlands. One person was killed and 19 passengers taken to hospital when an inter-city train collided with a crane and derailed outside The Hague.
Emergency services say the overnight crash happened after the train transporting about 50 people hit a construction crane near the village of Voorschoten. Emergency services said the train was carrying about 50 people when the train derailed near the village of Voorschoten.
A freight train is also reported to have been damaged. The accident was the worst on Dutch railways for years and King Willem-Alexander later visited the scene.
Some people were treated at the scene, but 19 have been taken to hospital. Residents looked after some of the passengers with minor injuries.
Local residents have been caring for those passengers with minor injuries. The crash happened at about 03:25 local time (01:25 GMT) on Tuesday, tearing apart the NS passenger train and bringing down one of the overhead power lines.
The crash happened at about 03:25 local time (01:25 GMT) on Tuesday, tearing apart the train and bringing one of the overhead power lines down. A goods train also collided with the crane, which was being used for repairs to two of four railway tracks near Voorschoten.
One carriage careered down the grassy slope, while another remained on the tracks. Most of the double-decker inter-city train's lower windows were shattered. The person who died had been working for construction company BAM, a spokesperson confirmed. Some of the 19 passengers were in a serious condition. The passenger train driver was also hurt, but the goods train driver was safe.
"We heard a bang first and then later, a much more intense one," one local resident told the AFP news agency. One of the passenger carriages careered down the grassy slope, while another remained on the tracks. Most of the double-decker inter-city train's lower windows were shattered.
"Then we heard people screaming. It was not good." "We heard a bang first and then later, a much more intense one," one local resident told the AFP news agency. "Then we heard people screaming. It was not good."
Dutch construction firm BAM has told local media that one of its employees died in the collision. "The crane was there to be used for maintenance," said John Voppen, head of the government network body ProRail. He said he was 100% sure the crane was not on the tracks being used by the trains, but was unable to say how the two trains collided with it.
Several investigations have been opened into the incident, including by ProRail - the governmental body responsible for the country's rail networks.
"The crane was there to be used for maintenance," its chief executive, John Voppen, said.
He added that two of the tracks had been closed for repairs, but two were still open "in accordance with safety regulations".
"I have been working in the rail industry for years and I don't understand how this could have happened.""I have been working in the rail industry for years and I don't understand how this could have happened."
A cordon has been set up around the site of the crashA cordon has been set up around the site of the crash
The nearby Leiden Central station, which lies between The Hague and Amsterdam, has been closed. Leiden Central station, which lies between The Hague and Amsterdam, has been closed. Trains are unlikely to be running in the area for days because of damage to the track, described as "enormous".
No trains to and from the city are expected to run until at least 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT). "This is an incredibly tragic accident," said Voorschoten Mayor Nadine Stemerdink. "We regret there was also a fatality. My thoughts go out to all the family and friends of those involved."
"This is an incredibly tragic accident," said Voorschoten Mayor Nadine Stemerdink. Police have launched an inquiry, as has the Dutch Safety Board, which will focus on how two trains could have collided with a crane that was supposed to be on one of two tracks taken out of service for maintenance.
"We regret there was also a fatality. My thoughts go out to all the family and friends of those involved." King Willem-Alexander visited the site after thanking residents who had opened their doors to treat passengers who did not need hospital treatment.
The country's Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, has expressed his condolences, as have the King and Queen. "Our thoughts are with the victims of the train accident at Voorschoten and their families," a statement from the Royal House reads. "Many are now in fear and uncertainty. We deeply sympathise with all of them."
"Our thoughts are with the victims of the train accident at Voorschoten and their families," a statement from the Royal House reads. Prime Minister Mark Rutte also expressed his condolences.
"Many are now in fear and uncertainty. We deeply sympathise with all of them."
King Willem-Alexander later visited the scene of the crash.
This sort of incident is extremely rare in the Netherlands, where the rail systems are generally very safe.This sort of incident is extremely rare in the Netherlands, where the rail systems are generally very safe.
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