Dalfsen train crash | |
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![]() A Spurt train was involved in the accident. | |
Details | |
Date | 23 February 2016 08:50 CET |
Location | Dalfsen, Overijssel |
Country | Netherlands |
Line | Zwolle - Emmen railway |
Operator | Arriva |
Incident type | Obstruction on line |
Cause | Vehicle obstructing line at level crossing Operator unable to ascertain whether or not it was safe to cross |
Statistics | |
Trains | 1 |
Deaths | 1[1] |
Injured | 6 |
The Dalfsen train crash occurred on 23 February 2016 when a passenger train collided with a tracked elevated work platform on a level crossing at Dalfsen, Overijssel, Netherlands. One person was killed and six were injured, one seriously.
Accident
At 08:50 CET (07:50 UTC),[2] a passenger train collided with an elevated work platform at Dalfsen, Overijssel, Netherlands.[3] It is reported that the crane from company Van den Brink in Barneveld, was slowly crossing the line when it was hit by the train.[4] It had waited at the crossing while one train passed, but then started to cross and was hit by a second train.[5] The train involved was a Spurt GTW 2/8 train,[6] travelling from Zwolle to Coevorden.[7] All four vehicles were derailed.[3] One person was killed; the driver of the train.[2] There were fifteen passengers on board the train.[5] Six of the survivors were injured,[2] one person sustaining serious injuries.[4]
Two of the injured were taken to hospital in Zwolle.Cite error: The <ref>
tag has too many names (see the help page). The other four were treated at the scene.[8] Twelve ambulances were sent to the scene.[3] An air ambulance from the University Medical Center Groningen attended.[2]
The Grove MZ 90 CR elevated work platform weighed 20 tonnes. Equipped with caterpillar tracks, it had a top speed of approximately 1 kilometre per hour (0.62 mph). The platform had been parked on the south side of the railway line, and was to be driven to a point north of the railway where it was to be loaded onto a lorry. The operator waited until a train had passed before he started to cross, believing he had sufficient time to do so. Unknown to the operator, the next train was due in six minutes; the operator assumed he had approximately ten minutes. Unlike those in the United Kingdom, level crossings in the Netherlands provide no guidance for operators of large and/or slow vehicles, nor was a telephone link to a signalman provided. Thus the platform operator had no way of ascertaining that it was safe to cross.[9]
Whilst he was crossing, he saw the train approaching and attempted to attract the attention of the train driver as he continued to cross in an attempt to clear the crossing before the train arrived. The train driver would only have realised that the crossing was obstruced at a distance of 175 metres (191 yd), but the train would have required a distance of 800 metres (870 yd) to stop at the speed it was travelling at (140 kilometres per hour (87 mph)). The driver activated the emergence brakes within a second of seeing the obstruction, slowing the train to 107 kilometres per hour (66 mph) at the point of impact. The platform was pushed 15 metres (16 yd) along the line until it collided with a pole supporting the overhead line. The impact caused the platform to break into its three main parts and lifted the front of the train, which derailed, stopping a further 150 metres (160 yd) further along the line. The cab of the train was destroyed, killing the driver. The platform operator jumped from the vehicle shortly before the collision, sustaining minor injuries.[9]
It was initially expected that the line between Zwolle and Ommen would be closed for at least three days.[3][10] Arriva instigated a bus replacement service between those stations.[5]
Work to remove the train took place over the night of 23–24 February, with the first carriage being removed during the night. Once the train has been removed,[11] repairs were made to the track and catenary, 180 metres (200 yd) of which were affected.[12] The damaged carriages were taken to a depot in Meppel.[11][13] Following repairs, the line was reopened in the evening of 27 February.[14]
Investigations
The Dutch Safety Board (Dutch: Onderzoeksraad Voor Veiligheid, OVV) are responsible for investigating railway accidents in the Netherlands. An investigation has been opened into the accident.[5][15] The OVV published its final report into the accident in December 2016.[9]
The investigation found that the cause of the crash was that the elevated work platform obstructed the line, but that there was no mechanism in place to allow the operator of the vehicle to ascertain whether or not it was safe to cross. Six recommendations were made. The impact forces sustained by the cab of the train were four times higher than those it was designed to withstand, which is why the cab was destroyed in the accident. The driver had insufficient time available to avoid the accident or retreat from the cab to a survival space within the train. Following the accident, vehicles with steel caterpillar tracks were prohibited from using level crossings in the Netherlands.[9] One of the recommendatios was that ProRail should look at the issue of drivers of large/slow vehicles being able to ascertain whether or not it was safe to cross a level crossing. ProRail has responded by stating that is is "embracing" the recommendations.[16]
The Dutch police opened a separate investigation into the accident. The elevated work platform driver was detained for questioning.[17] He could face charges of causing death by negligence, causing a fatal traffic collision and causing danger on the railway.[18]
References
- ^ "Deadly train crash in Netherlands". Euronews. 23 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d Peters, Janene. "At least one killed after passenger train smashes crane; Train overturned". NL Times. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Doden en gewonden bij treinramp Dalfsen" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Dutch train derails at Dalfsen after hitting crane". BBC News Online. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d "One killed, several injured as train ploughs into crane at railway crossing". Dutch News. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "(aerial photo of derailed train)". De Telegraaf via Instagram. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "Kraanmachinist verdacht van dood door schuld" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "'Treinongeluk door inschattingsfout'" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d "Botsing tussen een reizigerstrein en een hoogwerker te Dalfsen" (PDF) (in Dutch). Onderzoeksraad Voor Veiligheid. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Nog minstens drie dagen geen treinen rond Dalfsen" (in Dutch). Dagblad van het Noorden. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Pieters, Janene. "Train engineer killed in derailment was new to the job; well-regarded at home". NL Times. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "'Zondag weer treinen bij Dalfsen'" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Ontspoorde trein bij Dalfsen geborgen" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Trein Ommen-Zwolle rijdt weer" (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Treinontsporing Dalfsen" (in Dutch). Onderzoeksraad Voor Veiligheid. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|trans_title=
ignored (|trans-title=
suggested) (help) - ^ Pieters, Janine (13 December 2016). "February train crash investigation prompts call for more safety rules". NL Times. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Pieters, Janene. "Police question crane operator in fatal train derailment; 7 hurt". NL Times. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ Pieters, Janene. "Crane driver suspected of causing fatal train crash". NL Times. Retrieved 24 February 2016.