Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Railway crossing
Railway crossing - Credit: Photo: tofotografie/DepositPhotos
Business
Hooghalen
Drenthe
Train accident
fatal train accident
ProRail
NS
unguarded railway crossing
Thursday, 11 March 2021 - 10:12
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

ProRail taking immediate action at 28 dangerous, unguarded rail crossings

Rail manager ProRail is taking immediate action at 28 unguarded level crossings in the Netherlands after an investigation showed that they are even more dangerous than previously thought. NS is also taking measures to improve the visibility of trains, NU.nl reports.

The investigation was into a fatal collision between a train and an agricultural vehicle in Hooghalen in Drenthe in May last year. A 58-year-old train driver was killed and two passengers sustained minor injuries.

The investigation showed that heavy vehicles needs more time to cross unguarded level crossings than ProRail previously assumed. This prompted ProRail to designate 137 of the total 227 unguarded crossings in the country as potentially risky.

At 28 crossings, the risk is so great that measures are being taken immediately. Six of them, all located in the northeast of the country, will close to heavy vehicles, such as tractors, on Thursday. At four crossings, a speed limit of 90 kilometers per hour will be implemented for trains. At one crossing, heavy vehicles must notify ProRail of their crossing in advance.

For the other 17 acutely dangerous crossings, ProRail will perform an extra safety check in order to prepare them for train speed limits as well. Possible measures at the other 109 potentially risky crossings will be discussed in the near future.

NS is also taking measures to increase the visibility of trains. From now on, sprinter drivers must turn the headlights on brighter while the train is moving. The color scheme of the trains will also be adjusted, even though the vehicles already comply with European directives, an NS spokesperson said to NU.nl. "We will mainly look at the contrast of the trains."

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Schiphol still struggling with suitcases; Crowds manageable
  • Vuelta returns to Netherlands with time trial tonight; Many farmers to protest during race tomorrow
  • Well-known Israeli modeling agent arrested in Amsterdam
  • Significant increase in entrepreneurs with payment problems, says credit bureau
  • Thuisbezorgd parent Just Eat Takeaway to sell iFood stake for €1.5 billion; Shares up 29%
  • Airline ticket prices to rise by hundreds of euros this winter for travel outside Europe

Top stories

  • Dutch purchasing power expected to fall 6.8 pct. this year, Child poverty could hit 9.5%
  • Rutte: Meeting on urgent political issues was a good talk with no decisions
  • Achieving nitrogen targets by 2030 is not set in stone, says CDA leader Hoekstra
  • Rhine falls to record low water level at Dutch entry point; Measures readied for waterways
  • Bullying, emotional abuse was common in elite Dutch triathlon training program: Report
  • Residents protesting asylum center want to buy the hotel intended for asylum seekers

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content