Train hits crane on crossing, media report injuries

Photographs from the scene posted on social media and by Dutch news organizations showed the train sprawled almost horizontally over tracks outside the town of Dalfsen.

It happened near the town of Dalfsen in the centre of the country.

The Netherlands’ worst train disaster happened on January 8, 1962, when two passenger trains crashed at Harmelen, near the central city of Utrecht, killing 93 people and injuring 52 others. “A train came from the other direction and hit the crane full on.” the witness said.

Dalfsen mayor Hans Noten said the train was nearly empty.

Mr Noten said the train’s driver had been confirmed dead. “The crane waited for the first train and then made the crossing”.

He added separately that about 10 people had been injured, but none of them was in a life-threatening condition.

The train had been heading east from Zwolle, RTV Oost reported.

Infrastructure Minister Sharon Dijksma said she was “shocked” by the accident, the Dutch news agency ANP said.