Netherlands train crash kills one, injures at least 117

April 23, 2012

Two passenger trains collided head-on in the area of in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, local authorities have confirmed. One 68-year-old woman died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. At least 117 were also reportedly injured in the crash.

One of the two trains involved in the crash was en route from to  while the second was going between  and the Dutch capital. Neither train derailed. Reports suggest the two trains, one a regional stop system vehicle and the other an, were not seriously damaged in the incident yesterday at 1830 (1630 ).

The exact number of people injured varies by source; ' has reported approximately 125 on Saturday and 117 Sunday, while the ' reported a figure of 121 experiencing minor, severe or very severe injuries yesterday. Passengers were assisted out of the train carriages, with those injured transported to hospital.

Speaking on behalf of police, Ed Kraszewski informed Netherlands news network AT5 of 51 individuals being "seriously or very seriously injured" and another seventy suffering minor injuries. Kraszewski commented on how the spaciousness of one of the train's carriages possibly contributed to the passengers' injuries and spoke of the assumption that "many people were thrown around the train by the crash; against walls, seats and other people", adding that neck injuries and broken bones were among the kinds of injury experienced.

How the two trains ended up travelling towards each other is uncertain at this stage. An investigation into the accident's cause has commenced.

Rail services have been disrupted as a result of the incident, with trains travelling between and  being suspended.